W THE LATE I**!* 

DR. vSEDOWICK. 



AND THE 



SPIRIT MEDIUM 




f OvJuO N 
/(jL "(JO 

1 or > ooony ^ 




Caylorip 

ex 

JX 




s 










1 

i 

* i 




pS||§p| 


^^^^ 


is 


l 











LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 



Chap. Copyright No. 

Shel£_Bl-i£7a. 
^r-3S 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



THE 



LATE DR. SEDGWICK 



SPIRIT MEDIUM 

{Based Upon Facts) 



A FASCINATING NARRATIVE 

REVEALING IN STORY A COMPREHENSIVE AND CONCISE 

OUTLINE OF SPIRIT PHILOSOPHY AND THE METHODS 

EMPLOYED BY MEDIUMS TO FOIST IT UPON 

A CREDULOUS PUBLIC 

TOGETHER WITH A CHAPTER ON 

PSYCHIC LAW 

{Glossary Appended) 



By REV. E. H. CAYLOR 

Vice-President of the National Anti-Spiritualistic 
Association of America 



V&9 




©ATTO!*, OHIO 

FNTTSD BRETHREN PUBLISHING HODSI 
1900 



2642 

TWO COPIES RECEIVED, 

Library of U©figr88% 
Offles of i|g 

JUN 7 - 19Q0 

KcgUtar of Cop¥?l§|]fc 

^2. s^/Z'Z 



J*W?s 



>ffrd 



SECOND COPY, 



4"'" i €\ *"^ /f 



Copyright, 1900 

By the TJ. B. Publishing House 

All Mights Reserved 



PREFACE. 



The narrative, or story, presenting the sub- 
ject of spiritualism in this book, is based upon 
incidents and observation in the experience of 
the writer, so grouped as to entertain the reader 
in a continuous recital, until he has thoroughly 
covered that comprehensive and fascinating 
field frequented by so large a class of inquisi- 
tive and credulous minds. 

The writer makes no apology for entering the 
field of fiction to convey so important a truth, 
involved in so alluring a subject, but reminds 
the reader that this has been a legitimate field 
of thought in all ages on all subjects. 

The reader, on finishing, will find himself 
posted with a volume of information on this 
modern delusion that should fortify him against 
any of its approaches. 

The chapter on psychic force, or mental law, 
is intended to interest the student in the state- 
ment of some now well-established facts in the 
realm of mind. 

Appended is a convenient table of definitions 
of psychic terms, suggestive also of the complex 
and comprehensive field outlying a solution of 
the mysteries of human life. 

E. H. Cayxor. 

Columbus, Ohio, May 15, 1900. 
iii 



The Late Dr. Sedgwick and 
the Spirit Medium. 



chapter I. 

H. W. C. was a well-known itinerant spirit 
medium, and possessed many qualities highly 
appreciated by the people in whose community 
he would stop to assist the bereft in coming 
into touch with their departed friends. One 
day while in the town of B., of the State of 
Michigan, as he picked up a Detroit morning 
paper his eye caught the sad, but to him inter- 
esting, notice of the finding of the body of 
William Sedgwick. The body had been iden- 
tified at the morgue and later interred at 
Green Lawn Cemetery. 

William Sedgwick was a well-known veter- 
inary surgeon, who had long and successfully 
practiced his profession in the town of B. , but 
who had sold out his practice to a younger 
and more ambitious surgeon and had there- 
after lived a retired life in the city of Detroit, 
where he was regarded among his limited 
personal acquaintances as a somewhat eccen- 
tric character. 

5 



6 The Late Dr. JSedgwicJc 

The doctor had not been seen at any of his 
usual resorts for some time previous to the 
finding of his body. Inquiry had been made, 
but no information could be obtained locating 
him, nor did any of his movements indicate 
any purpose of leaving the city. None of his 
effects were so adjusted as to give a clew to 
the cause of his absence, and all was conjec- 
ture until the finding of the body noticed in 
the papers. 

The life of Doctor Sedgwick was much a 
secret even to his most intimate friends. As 
to family he was alone, having buried the 
companion of his youth many years previous 
and having never again married. This, how- 
ever, did not hinder, but seemed to increase 
the number of suggestions as to the cause and 
purpose of the doctor's disappearance. His 
name, in his absence, was used to fill out a 
story needing a sequel, involving a well-known 
society lady with whom it was hinted that the 
doctor had, at least, an acquaintance. The 
doctor, withal, was an interesting companion, 
had a good purse, and did not look his age by 
a decade or more of years ; and, while suicide 
was hinted at to account for his taking off, it 
found but few sympathizers, as he had never 
been treated for melancholia. 

There was, at the time that the doctor's 
absence gained attention in Detroit, an inter- 
esting item of gossip — hinted at above — at- 
tached to the fact that Mrs. F., of B. street, 



and the Spirit Jfedium 7 

a lady of means, had left her resort at the 
Springs, and had neither returned to the city 
nor kept up her correspondence, and these two 
incidents were wont to be associated together 
and were classed by some as more than coin- 
cident. Some were heard to say, "I pass 
my guess," etc., closing with a wise facial 
gesture. 

The next day after the finding of the body, 
the Detroit paper's industrious news-gatherer 
had found material to indite a lengthy and in- 
teresting biographical sketch of Doctor Sedg- 
wick, which, interwoven with events in the 
life of this eccentric man, caught the eye and 
attention of an unusual number of readers. 
The next day Professor C, the spirit medium, 
now doing a good business in his profession in 
the town of B., and who was very successful 
in obtaining for his sitters messages from de- 
parted ones, again took up the Detroit daily 
and read closely the narrative of the life of 
Doctor Sedgwick. 

It will be noticed that the town of B., as 
stated, was the former home of Doctor Sedg- 
wick, and this fact, seemingly just now discov- 
ered by the medium, made the circumstances 
of the doctor's death apparently the more 
interesting to him. 

It is a well-known fact in occult experi- 
ences that developments are always best 
where the psychic can, by his own objective 
knowledge, assist or at least corroborate mes- 



8 The Late Dr. Sedgwick 

sages arriving from supermundane sources; 
and here Professor C. saw some possible good 
in memorizing some of the incidents of the 
narrative of the life of Doctor Sedgwick; 
for, "who could tell but that," said he, u the 
spirit of one so fond of all things out of the 
ordinary would find its way into the seance 
circle?" 

Then Professor C, after reading the article, 
dropped the paper, rose to his feet, placed 
both hands within his pockets, bent over with 
eyes downward, deeply meditative, and slowly 
paced the floor. Then, standing erect, with 
eyes immovable for a moment, as though in a 
trance or a clairvoyant condition, he suddenly 
resumed his chair and taking up the paper 
again, carefully re-read the narrative and thus 
soliloquized, "Now if any spirit appears and 
attempts to impersonate Doctor Sedgwick, I 
am prepared to determine the truth," remem- 
bering his experience in Boston where three 
different spirits had presumed to claim that 
they were General Grant. "Impersonating" 
is a peculiar and mischievous phase that 
sometimes develops in spiritualistic experi- 
ences. It is brought on by the overwrought 
anxiety of a sitter who has frequently urged 
and sought communications with a departed 
one until enough has been said by the sitter 
about his friend to give the spirit present a 
clew, who, then, out of sympathy, himself 
represents the one longed for, and at times, 



and the Spirit Medium 9 

and indeed ofttimes, renders complete satis- 
faction to anxious and inquiring sitters, 

Days passed by, and the accumulated expe- 
rience of the now fully-formed and well-devel- 
oped seance circle of Professor C. was the 
cause of great eclat in the aristocratic little 
city of B. The young ladies, not a few of 
them, on the streets had ventured to stop and 
frequently read the professor's sign and make 
comment on what transpired back of it. In 
large lettering it read as follows: "Professor 
H. W. C. , Clairvoyant, Developing and Mate- 
rializing Spirit Medium." Young ladies are 
fond, too, of the experience of seances, and, 
though suspicious of darkness, seldom mani- 
fest any fear in the presence of disembodied 
visitors. It is believed that the presence of 
about equal numbers of the two sexes at a 
circle or seance assists in producing the mag- 
netic conditions so in harmony with the con- 
ditions required by returning spirits. Thus 
it was apparent why Professor C. always 
insisted, if convenient, upon having equal 
numbers of ladies and gentlemen present at 
his occult circles. 

Among those who now habitually attended 
the circles of Professor C. in the town of B., 
was a lady friend of Mrs. F., of B. street, 
Detroit, who had suggested to the medium 
that he endeavor to call up some one of Mrs. 
F.'s departed friends and consult as to whether 
she had put in an appearance over there, 



10 The Late Dr. Sedgwick 

This suggestion of the young lady was in line 
with the doing of much fine work by the 
medium, who based his proof and warrant 
on a certain incident of the inspired Word, 
and quoted the text, " Bring me up Samuel." 

At this stage of affairs, there appeared in 
the town of B. a gentleman who registered 
at The Park as " Henry Gould, Columbus, 
Ohio." He seemed unemployed and some- 
what reticent, but always in a pleasant mood 
when approached. After a few days, having 
made a few slight acquaintances, he noticed 
one morning in the daily paper of the town 
the glowing and attractive advertisement of 
Professor C, the spirit medium. 

The next day after reading Professor C.'s 
advertisement, Mr. Gould overheard some 
persons talking of the wonderful manifesta- 
tions at the seance, and soon found himself 
mingling with the spiritualists and greatly 
interested in the results of investigation. 
Though somewhat advanced in years he soon 
became an important figure at the circle, 
for Professor C. pronounced Mr. Gould 
strongly mediumistic and very helpful to 
him. Thus the two united in forming a 
strong magnetic force, and manifestations 
were greatly improved. 

Up to this date Professor C. had not done 
much in full-form materialization, but now 
a number of spirits had appeared in full 
materialized form and had been recognized 



and the Spirit Medium 11 

by living friends. Some of the returning 
spirits had even shaken hands with the circle 
and then slowly dematerialized, causing great 
wonderment and interest by their manifesta- 
tions. Others appeared who spoke without 
the aid of the spirit trumpet, and sang spirit 
songs, giving evidence of very lively condi- 
tions. Many communications thus received 
from departed ones gave unbounded joy to 
their living friends. The one pain in all this 
pleasure was the brief stay of these appari- 
tions, and the trait — liable to occur — of un- 
completed messages. 

The young lady friend of Mrs. F., of B. 
street, Detroit, had the privilege and pleasure 
at a seance now, in reply to her request to the 
medium, of meeting a spirit, a mutual friend, 
in the person of her aunt who was well ac- 
quainted with Mrs. F. in life. 

44 Is this Aunt Ruth?" inquired Miss L. at 
this seance, as some spirit, purporting to be 
her aunt, spoke to her through the trumpet in 
a faint voice. 

"Ruth! Yes; Ruth, your aunt! I am so 
glad, my dear niece, to see you. Tell your 
father, my brother" — and the spirit disap- 
peared. 

Later in the evening u Aunt Ruth" ap- 
peared again, wooed back by the earnest 
desire of Miss L. to inquire about Mrs. F. of 
Detroit, the mysteriously missing lady. 

When the aunt had again announced her 



12 The Late Dr. Sedgwick 

appearance to her niece— her voice in the 
trumpet some stronger this time — Miss L. m 
an appealing manner inquired: "Say, Aunt, 
can you give us any information as to the 
mysterious disappearance of Mrs. F., with 
whom you were so intimate in life ? Has she 
joined you in the spirit world, or what has 
become of her ? " 

The spirit of "Aunt Ruth" laughed heart- 
ily; and, after a moment's hesitation, a faint 
voice began by saying, "Why don't you 
know " — and then was still. This was a great 
disappointment to Miss L., as also to all in 
the circle, for all were in high glee, expecting 
to hear something of the incident or accident, 
as it might prove to be, accounting for the 
mysterious disappearance of Mrs. F. 

"Aunt Ruth 1 ' in her last manifestation had 
materialized, but remained for a brief time, 
and was but dimly outlined within the cabinet. 
The medium explained u Aunt Ruth's" failure 
to proceed with what she was going to say 
about Mrs. F., and her not being able to re- 
main longer in materialized form, on the pre- 
sumption that her boisterous laughter at the 
question of Miss L. had so exhausted the 
magnetic force embodied in materializing, 
that she was compelled to dematerialize and 
recuperate, assuring the circle, however, that 
she would return again and at some future 
time would explain fully. 

Again the manifestations were changed to 



and the Spirit Medium 13 

trumpet speaking, and the room was intensely 
dark as the seance proceeded. As a trumpet 
medium, Mr. Gould, now associated with Pro- 
fessor C, had developed into proficiency. 
Numerous old and long-departed former citi- 
zens of the neighboring districts of the town 
of B. had been appearing in spirit form, 
speaking through the trumpet, manifesting 
fine tests and indubitable evidence of genuine- 
ness, and sending messages to living friends. 
Following the manifestation of u Aunt Ruth," 
and resuming the trumpet, a most vigorous 
spirit, the control of Mr. Gould, who called 
himself Jonas, announced the presence of a 
spirit anxious to be introduced to the citizens 
of B., and whom the control said he was sure 
the circle would be pleased to meet and greet. 
"This person," said the control, u is the late 
Doctor Sedgwick and he wishes to communi- 
cate." 

This announcement aroused intense interest 
in the circle, and the question was quickly 
asked the control, "With whom does the 
doctor desire to communicate ? " 

There were present at this seance seventeen 
persons, and among them several persons at 
one time intimate associates of the lamented 
doctor. The spirit control, calling himself 
Jonas, said that he would consult the spirit 
of the doctor and see if he had a prefer- 
ence for speaking to any particular person 
present. 



14 The Late Br. Sedgwick 

When a spirit for the first time returns to 
manifest in a seance, it finds it difficult to get 
en rapport with the living form, and finds it 
necessary to select a congenial person with 
whom to communicate, or await an opportun- 
ity when the living is in a perceptive and 
receptive mood. Thus it often happens that 
the presence of spirits is not realized. 

Awaiting the report of the control from 
the doctor, a silence in the circle occurred, 
and so still and so dark was it as to suggest 
that the living had entered the grave instead 
of the dead returning from it. Presently 
one of the circle, whose wits and wisdom 
were equal to the occasion, began singing 
the air, "Then every day will be Sunday," 
a favorite air of Doctor Sedgwick in life. 
All joined in the refrain, until the weird, 
uncanny atmosphere seemed charged with 
a halo that in one end of the room dispelled 
some of the darkness, and at length there 
appeared a star sufficiently bright to be seen 
by all the circle, but which quickly disap- 
peared. 

The appearance of a star in a dark circle 
denotes that the spirit present has some very 
important information to impart, and is itself 
ill at rest until it has been enabled to com- 
municate with the living one for whom the 
message is intended. It is reported by return- 
ing spirits that multitudes of spirits departing 
the body with secrets concealed are constantly 



and the Spirit Medium 15 

seeking opportunity to reveal to the living 
that which would benefit both. 

When the singing mentioned had ceased 
and quiet had returned, 4 ' Jonas, " the control of 
Mr. Gould, came to the trumpet, and in a very 
clear voice said that the doctor recognized 
eight persons out of the seventeen present, all 
of whom, no doubt, would say that they had 
known him in life. He said that there was 
present an old, and at one time intimate, 
friend of the doctor's, known years ago in the 
town of B. as " Hurry Joe," and that he 
would like to speak to this gentleman. 

The gentleman present recognized the no?7i 
de plume, but said that it had been years since 
he had heard it mentioned, as the incident 
giving rise to it had been forgotten, and with 
it the name. "But," said he, " I knew well 
the doctor, and shall be pleased to have com- 
munication with him." 

Just then the large end of the trumpet came 
in touch with "Hurry Joe," and a faint voice 
began whispering through the instrument, 
gradually growing stronger and more audible, 
until distinctly and audibly heard. 

Dr. Sedgwick and his old friend passed com- 
pliments, and then came up the incident of the 
doctor's death. From the communication it 
was ascertained that much embodied in the 
Detroit news articles was true, but that some 
of the surmises were vague fancies, and that 
Borne of the important facts relating to the 



16 The Late Dr. Sedgwick 

doctor's death had not been discovered, and 
that it would be to the advantage of some 
persons in Detroit if these should remain a 
secret. The ear of every one was intently 
open, and the inquisitiveness grew more tense, 
until the faintness of the voice indicated that 
the spirit would remain but little longer. 

Before disappearing, the spirit doctor re- 
quested his friend to go to one Doctor Jones, 
in the town of B., and summon him to appear 
in the circle at the next seance, as ' ' I want to 
see him," said the doctor. 

This request of Doctor Sedgwick was not a 
surprise to those who had known him in life, 
as the two doctors, though in different fields 
of professional work, were yet connected in 
secular lines, involving large financial inter- 
ests. While, however, they had for some 
years lived in separate cities, their business 
had still continued jointly and was seemingly 
prosperous. 

At the death of Doctor Sedgwick, there be- 
ing no heirs direct and, apparently, no will, 
the promise of a satisfactory adjustment of 
his estate was not flattering. Already some 
of the indirect heirs had begun to be anx- 
ious. 

It was supposed that Doctor Sedgwick wished 
to communicate with Doctor Jones in the mat- 
ter of the adjusting of his estate, and perhaps 
add a spirit codicil to what was hoped would 
yet turn up as a will. 



and the Spirit Medium 17 

44 Hurry Joe " carried the message to Doctor 
Jones, but it was received by the doctor with 
both surprise and doubt. But some of the 
incidents related to Doctor Jones by the mes- 
senger, whom the doctor, being intimately 
acquainted with him, knew to be honest and 
truthful, caused him to take the matter seri- 
ously, and he was sufficiently impressed with 
the sincerity of the report to promise to attend 
the next seance. 

Meantime, before the time of the next regu- 
lar seance, a select sitting was held at the 
home of one of the newly-made converts to 
spiritualism, there being present twelve 
persons, most of whom had been invited be- 
cause in line with some promised spirit 
developments. Numerous plans of future 
developments had been laid out by spirits 
who intimated their desire to assist their 
friends still remaining in the material world. 
At this select circle the spirit of Doctor Sedg- 
wick again appeared and supplemented some 
matters connected with the last regular meet- 
ing. Indeed, the experience of the evening 
developed into one of the most interesting 
sittings ever held by the circle. The lamented 
doctor promised to be present at the next 
regular sitting of the circle, and hoped he 
would be sufficiently strong to materialize in 
full form. 

Miss L., being present at this special meet- 
ing, took occasion to ask the doctor as to the 
2 



18 The Late Dr. Sedgwick 

circumstance of Mrs. F.'s disappearance from 
the Springs, and wanted him, if he could give 
even the faintest clew to the mystery, to do 
so. After the questioning by Miss L., during 
which she had endeavored to explain her 
meaning fully, the doctor, too, laughed heart- 
ily, and then began to say, " Why, don't you 
know — ?" and the voice was still, without 
completing the sentence so full of anticipation. 

Miss L. pleaded with the spirit to finish his 
interrogation, and at one time it was thought 
that something more would be added, but the 
doctor had passed beyond any further com- 
munication for the present. 

Then came a spirit gaining possession of the 
trumpet, a character long ago deceased, but 
once well known in the neighborhood north of 
the town of B. His peculiar characteristic 
was belief in witchcraft. This person in life 
had been somewhat deformed bodily and had 
attributed his misfortune to the influence and 
injury of witches. 

The appearance of this long-forgotten spirit 
was a surprise to the circle, and but two per- 
sons present had any recollection of ever having 
heard of him. 

Great curiosity was now aroused at the 
presence of this quaint character, and inquiry 
was made as to the object of his appearing at 
so unpropitious a time, when none of his 
triends were present. He was asked how or 
why he came, so out of the order of spirit 



and the Spirit Medium 19 

law, it being believed that there must exist 
some mundane congeniality to enable a spirit 
to get en rapport with the material world. 

"I see," the spirit answered, "but I will 
remark that some constructions put by the liv- 
ing upon the conditions of spirit manifesting, 
do not rightly set forth the facts. " "I have," 
he went on to say, "been present at many 
seances, but have never found an opportunity 
to manifest myself until now ; for, always at 
the circles with a good medium present, there 
are multitudes of spirits on hand and the 
number who can communicate is limited, as 
the spirit bands over here rule in these mat- 
ters, and it is adjudged by them as to who is 
or are the most fitting to speak to the sitter or 
circle." Said he: "The spirit who has just 
preceded me, Doctor Sedgwick, has main- 
tained, on passing over to the spirit land, a 
very strong and forceful character and will 
have but little trouble in getting opportunity 
to manifest himself or influence other spirits 
over here. When the doctor had just laughed 
at the questions of the young lady present and 
left his last communication unfinished, he sig- 
naled me to take the trumpet, and now, having 
opportunity to speak, you will suffer me to say 
that in life a number of times, when Doctor 
Sedgwick was a youth, I met him and inter- 
ested him in narrating to him the peculiar 
experiences common to witchcraft. I told the 
young man how this infectious art had been 



20 The Late Dr. Sedgwick 

applied to the injury of domestic animals, and 
how the veterinary surgeon in my day was 
called upon to set the stifles of horses thrown 
out by being hard ridden at night by witches, 
and how I myself (I was a veterinary sur- 
geon) in vented an oleum to anoint the manes 
of horses to prevent these nocturnal visitors 
from braiding them." 

Continuing, he said that Doctor Sedgwick 
had never forgotten these stories, and in after 
years had reduced to practical business some 
things originating in the suggestions of these 
stories. He said that he had long been watch- 
ing the doctor and his associates, but never 
had had an opportunity to communicate with 
him until he came over to the spirit land, and 
here it would be but natural to meet and greet 
him. u The spirit of Doctor Sedgwick," said 
this quaint character before he left, "is still 
present in the band of the medium, and now 
says to me that I shall say to the circle that 
he intends being present at your next regular 
meeting and hopes to meet Doctor Jones, of 
your city, there. Before bidding you 'good- 
night,' I will say that I was in my lifetime 
quite generally known as 'General Wicker,' 
taking my name from one of the officers on 
General Wayne's staff, with whom I scouted 
when I was a youth." 

At this point the trumpet fell heavily to the 
floor, and the mediums, Professor C. and Mr. 
Gould, both of whom had been put under test 



and the Spirit Medium 21 

conditions and had been entranced, with one 
voice called for "lights." Miss L., the most 
surprised person in the circle, and also one of 
the new converts to spiritualism, in a social 
interview after the closing of the seance, said 
that her wonder knew no bounds, as she could 
certify that her father had known a person 
who was called or nicknamed 4 4 General 
Wicker," and that she had heard him tell 
stories, at one time current nursery "hair- 
raisers " on the line of witchcraft. ' 'And can 
it be possible," said she, "that the spirit of 
this long-forgotten witch-beridden unfortunate 
has returned? And if so, what shall it end 
in?" 

The mediums were asked whether it would 
be best to thus draw the bolts and set the gates 
ajar ; whether or not they were not approach- 
ing a notoriety that would result in more 
enthusiasm than felicity. Professor C. calm- 
ly, though with seeming responsible concern, 
replied that the late experiences in some 
of the casts of spirit communications seemed 
new, but that no embarrassment need be 
anticipated, for long ago it had been promised 
by returning spirits that the inhabitants of 
the other shore would return, and m a practi- 
cal business way would assist the living. 

Here ended the special seance, and the mem- 
bers of the circle, as they wended their way 
home through the ill-lighted streets of the 
city of B., carried with them a mingled set of 



22 The Late Dr. Sedgwick 

convictions that seemed in harmony with the 
discordant swishing of the tree-tops and the 
flickering of the waning lights as the winds 
above and around them strove to make their 
midnight " manifestations." 

Miss L.'s father was a firm disbeliever in 
spiritualism, and in unmeasured terms de- 
nounced the whole thing as fraud or the work 
of Satan. He, however, loved his daughter, 
and was only too indulgent with her, which 
gave her an opportunity to attend the seances, 
her spare coin making her to the medium a 
desirable investigator, as upon consent of her 
father she was to go and find out for herself 
that it was all "fake and foolishness." 

Miss L., however, was always thoroughly 
interrogated by her father as to what had de- 
veloped at the seance. She was always ready, 
in the most graphic manner, to portray to her 
parent all the incidents of the evening. Her 
father had become less irascible and more en- 
tertained at her recitals than when she first 
began attending the spiritualistic circles. The 
report of this last and select seance was of 
unusual interest to him, and before the inter- 
view was completed, he himself had resolved 
to attend. Said he, "I for myself will see if 
spiritualism is true, and if not, will assist in 
running down the fraud, for my indulgence to 
my daughter has given her an opportunity to 
discover the fact of spiritualism, or else 
has given the mediums or Satan an oppor- 



and the Spirit Medium 23 

tunity to deceive her, for though she does not 
confess to me that she is a spiritualist, I can 
see that she is in a fair way soon to make such 
an avowal." Seances and sittings in some 
form were held every day and night. 

The relating by Miss L. to her father of 
the experience in the seance with " General 
Wicker" was a climax of verbal narrative. 
Keenly realizing that a story so unexpected 
and so irrational to her father, and yet so full 
of meaning in spirit investigation, if told in 
an uncouth manner, might result to her own 
detriment, she hesitated. She well knew that 
any break in the narrative, or any undue zeal 
on her part, would arouse discredit in the mind 
of her father, and might result in a decree 
stopping her further attendance at the circle. 
So, in a characteristic way, she began to call to 
mind some of the stories she had once heard 
her father and her mother's brother tell relating 
to witchcraft, to see whether her father himself 
would not introduce ''General Wicker." 

4 'Witchcraft," said her father, "is one of 
the self-imposed delusions of the human mind 
that cannot live in a developed intelligence. 
It has played its part in the growth of knowl- 
edge, and is now relegated to the past. But, 
daughter," said he, "why do you mention 
witchcraft ? We have had none of it, nor any 
one to talk about it, for a generation or two. 
I was once, when a boy, acquainted with an old 
man who had fought in the early Indian wars, 



24 The Late Dr. Sedgwic7c 

who was a victim of so-called witch injuries. 
I do not, however, remember speaking of him 
or even thinking of him for many years. But 
how came you, daughter, to introduce this 
subject ? Was the subject included in your 
spirit business last night ? " 

"Well, father," replied the daughter, "I 
have a mind to say that it might be so con- 
strued, and when I shall have heard something 
further of what you have intimated was once 
current in the gossip of your youth, I can the 
better determine some things that I feel like 
introducing in my report of what did happen 
last night. You know, father, if this claim of 
spiritualism is true, you would not expect me 
to come in contact with the visitors from the 
other world, and then learn nothing that was 
of more interest than the prattle of pot-com- 
panions on the street. You know how often 
you have quoted the old adage that 'dead 
men tell no tales,' and if now I have anything 
to tell with which to gain your belief, it must 
prove this adage incorrect. This looks like a 
hard task, and may be impossible; but one 
thing, father, for good, if nothing else comes 
of it, has come to me in my recent experi- 
ence. It is that I am becoming philosophical. 
I am beginning to think, and I hope, before 
we are through with this life, to find dropped 
from your social and domestic vocabulary 
one term so often applied to me — 'thoughtless 
girl.'" 



and the Spirit Medium 25 

41 Well, well, daughter, you seem beyond 
yourself now! Come, come," said the father, 
"have you brought home with you one of 
those spirit 4 controls' to dictate for you to 
me? What are you drifting toward? If 
there are any questions you wish to ask me, 
speak plainly. My interest in this matter is 
getting somewhat mingled with surprise, and 
as yet I see no felicitations in view. What is 
it you wish to know of me ? " 

"To be candid and direct, as you seem to 
desire me to be," said the daughter, "I will 
ask you to relate to me what you know about 
the character you mention as having fought in 
the Indian wars of an early day ? " 

"What do I know?" he queried. "You 
revive in my mind many long-forgotten inci- 
dents, stories woven into the past, and, as I 
supposed, buried in oblivion. But what queer 
sensations, daughter, come over me, as a 
whole book seems to open up before me, and 
I seem to be living my youth over again ! 
Is that ' control ' now shifting over on to me ? 
I, am I getting proof that f orgetfulness is not 
death, but only temporary concealment ! And 
that a condition so easily produced, or a cur- 
tain so easily removed, again revives all! 
But, daughter, am I not myself philosophiz- 
ing ? Hush ! 4 Tell you what I know ? ' Some 
things I will." And he continued : 

"My father one day sent me in haste to 
bring this man to treat a fine and favored 



26 The Late Dr. Sedgwick 

beast that seemed, without cause, attacked 
with a vicious malady. The 'doctor,' as he 
was called, gave relief, administering a com- 
pound, the formula of which, it is said, he 
never made known to any one." 

Other incidents in the lif e of this man were 
related by the father, until the daughter 
said : 

"Father, these are all corroborative." 

" Corroborative of what? " asked the father. 

The daughter laughed and then said, "Yes, 
as you may surmise, the spirit of your long- 
forgotten horse-doctor was in the seance last 
night, and I will add to your proof some 
further tests that may be remembered by you. 
He said that he had scouted for General 
Wayne in the Indian wars, and had taken the 
name of one of the officers of General Wayne's 
staff, and was for some years nicknamed i Gen- 
eral Wicker.' He said that when he was an 
old man and the late Doctor Sedgwick was a 
youth, they were acquaintances, and that 
when he learned that young Sedgwick was 
inclined toward the developing profession of 
veterinary surgery, he took no little interest 
in him, and that while the young man in- 
tended taking a collegiate and scientific course, 
so far as science and surgery were then con- 
nected, he, nevertheless, seemed interested in 
the old doctor's experience. 

"Doctor Sedgwick," said she, "came last 
night and began talking through the trumpet, 



and the Spirit Medium 27 

and gave some very interesting tests and then 
suddenly left, to the great disappointment of 
all, without finishing the answer to that per- 
plexing problem, the whereabouts of Mrs. F M 
of B. street, Detroit." 

The daughter always related the experience 
of the seances in a matter-of-fact way, and 
left her father free to construe the incidents. 

" While we were urging the doctor," said 
Miss L., " to complete what he had begun to 
say, the trumpet was taken by one who an- 
nounced himself as the character we have 
been discussing, and by presumption we ex- 
pect him to appear again, as he has been 
recognized by Doctor Sedgwick, who, too, 
seems to contemplate events pending arrange- 
ments and developments of the future." 

" Father," said the daughter, " the mediums 
seem to be laying down some very strict rules 
to the members of the circle, as all of them 
have friends whom they wish to bring into 
the circle, but are unable to find much en- 
couragement or hope; but I have heard Pro- 
fessor C. say that, if you wished to attend, he 
would try to give you room." 

u Tut-tut!" sharply replied the surprised 
parent. ' ' Suppose you that I am so credulous 
as to be believing in this thing from what you 
are saying ? 

"Certainly not. I should hope not, father," 
replied the young lady. "You are too saga- 
cious for that, and it is just such a man that 



28 The Late Dr. Sedgwick 

the mediums want present. I will now ven- 
ture, father, to ask you to go. Go with me. 
I will be safe in your company, and you will 
feel that your daughter is safe." 

This was a plea that appealed to a father's 
love and pride, for how seldom does a daugh- 
ter solicit the escort of her father, and to 
resent it now might give him cause for regret. 

"Well, my daughter, if your mother were 
living, I should send her with you, and I now 
ask pardon of your adopted mother for not 
placing her in your mother's stead, but how 
can I transfer this request to another? So, 
daughter, let me see ; have I any engagement 
for June the 4th ? None, I believe. Health 
and other circumstances permitting, I will go 
with you," said the father, as he arose to leave 
the breakfast table, where all the family had 
lingered much longer than usual. 



and the Spirit Medium 29 



CHAPTER II. 

The interval of a few days until the night 
of the regular seance, at which time the pro- 
fessor expected to open up more commodious 
quarters, was a period of unusual interest to 
some of the expectant circle. Miss L. had 
managed to inform the professor that her 
father would be present. This, and the fact 
that Doctor Jones proposed attending, added 
interest to the already sanguine anticipa- 
tions. 

When the evening came and the circle had 
gathered, Professor C. announced that Mr. 
Gould was unexpectedly called from the city, 
was in Chicago, and would not be present. 
This was a disappointment to the circle, and 
especially so to the new members, as they 
wished to see both persons of whom they had 
heard so much. An enumeration of the circle 
was taken, and it was found that twenty-one 
persons were present. " This is a lucky num- 
ber," said the professor, " three times seven. 
Indeed, all odd numbers under thirty are 
lucky numbers, as also one even number which 
is twelve. To be sure, thirteen is classed by 
the superstitious as an unlucky number, but 
superstition is counted out in spiritualism." 



30 The Late Br. Sedgwick 

Some difficulty was experienced in pairing 
off the circle and arranging for placing the 
new members. But all was eventually har- 
monized. 

At this meeting Professor C. introduced a 
new cabinet which, he said, had been con- 
structed in Paris, France, under the direction 
of the spirit of the lamented Ferdinand de 
Lesseps, and was of the form through which 
came the communications of the spirits from 
the planet Mars to the celebrated French 
astronomer, Camille Flammarion. Twenty 
minutes' time was given to the circle to 
examine the cabinet, and comments of all kind 
were made upon it. It seemed as free from 
" devices" as one's body to the physical sight 
seems free of a spirit. 

The order for this cabinet had been given 
months before, and but for the reputation of 
Professor C. as a medium, he would not have 
obtained it, it being the only one of the kind 
ever owned in America, and the only kind of 
a cabinet ever visited by spirits from other 
planets. " But," said the medium, "my pur- 
pose is not to woo spirits from Mars or Jupiter, 
but I have long known that spirits intend 
dictating the construction of their own hab- 
itations; and as the late great structural 
architect, Ferdinand de Lesseps, of France, is 
the first to return to dictate in the building 
of cabinets, having been chosen by a band of 
spirit architects for this purpose, I certainly 



and the Spirit Medium 31 

think that I have been honored and have done 
well in getting "this cabinet, which this circle 
to-night, also have the honor of assisting in 
dedicating to our spirit friends." 

A portion of the cabinet was constructed 
with illuminating rods, woven as a wire screen, 
and would only conceal the medium within 
by a curtain manipulated by the spirits enter- 
ing the cabinet. These rods were illuminated 
by a peculiar substance brought to our planet 
by the spirits from the planet Mars, and it is 
thought that if France does not raise the 
export duty too high, Boston and Chicago 
mediums will soon be in possession of these 
cabinets. But it is suggested that, possibly, 
the spirit of Mitchell or Loomis, American 
astronomers, may assist in getting in com- 
munication direct with the planet Mars, and 
thus this country will be independent of 
France. 

Before closing the cabinet, a committee was 
chosen, whose privilege and duty it was to 
watch and pass upon the actions of the me- 
dium, to protect the circle from intrigue or 
possible fraud. 

The medium proposed that he would not, at 
this sitting, at the dedication of this cabinet, go 
himself into the inside, but that he would sit 
without and allow the spirits alone the sacred 
right of the interior. Thus Professor C, the 
medium, posed without, the committee seeing 
that he was securely tied out of touch, and 



32 The Late Dr. Sedgwick 

with no possible means of getting within reach 
of the cabinet. They then drew clasps around 
the cabinet, which act looked like cooper- 
ing up a cask, and fastened the ends with a 
lock, which was also illuminated. One not 
accustomed to such experience has cause, after 
attending the first seance, to remember the 
sensations and unusual surprises which both 
bewilder and felicitate one's feelings at the 
first sitting. 

Completing the preparations, the circle was 
closed, lights extinguished, and the seance was 
on. Doctor Jones and Miss L.'s father, to- 
gether with the city druggist and his wife, 
constituted the new members of the circle. 

The full moon had passed the zenith that 
night before that circle broke up, and all, 
as they silently wended their way homeward, 
sought retreat where, for a time, they might 
" commune " with themselves. Each had made 
an investment, the profits of which might be 
a contingent sum, and yet, who could doubt? 

I will attempt to narrate the events of this 
historic seance, and thereby give to my un- 
initiated reader an idea of some of the start- 
ling revelations and interesting experiences of 
modern spiritualism. 

Professor C.'s sittings were always in the 
dark, except as spirits in their effervescent 
glow would at times dispel some of the dark- 
ness. At this, the first seance with the new 
cabinet from Paris, when the lights were 



and the Spirit Medium 33 

turned out, the glow from the illuminated 
parts of the cabinet distinctly outlined a num- 
ber of articles and objects in the room, and 
also made visible the interior of the cabinet. 
The covering to conceal the illumination of 
the cabinet had been thrown over the top of 
the structure, and instantly, when the lights 
were extinguished, this curtain was taken by 
invisible hands and thrown over the illum- 
inated parts until the usual thick darkness 
seemed to be intensified. This darkness was 
an essential, and this act upon the part of in- 
visible hands was a reminder not to presume 
that building a spirit body was done in the 
light. However, it was afterward found that 
the curtain had only covered the exterior of 
the illuminated parts of the cabinet, and that 
this spirit-iiluminous substance introduced 
from the planet Mars, incasing parts of the 
cabinet, was a basic substance, which assisted 
in building materialized forms, enabling spirits 
to easily and readily manifest, just as a luci- 
fer match assists one in building a flame. 
This luminous substance was unobstructed in 
the interior and in touch with spirits entering 
the cabinet. As yet, there seems to be in the 
material of the earth planet, no such lumi- 
nous substance and no phenomenon to com- 
pare it with except it be the expanding glow 
of the firefly, which gives off flame and con- 
sumes no substance. 
Doctor Jones was one of the honorable 

3 



34 The Late Dr. Sedgwick 

committee, and was seated nearest the cabinet. 
There had been placed within the cabinet 
several musical instruments, and among them 
one, also imported from Paris, France, called 
the Spi-ri'-tus* from which it was impossible 
for material hands to extract any melody. It 
had neither reeds nor chords. It did not seem 
to be constructed for either wind or vibration, 
yet from it or upon it were produced the most 
beautiful harmonies ever heard by any human 
ear. The wife of Doctor Jones, who for a 
time had been a student of classical music in 
Europe, said that the harmonies, though in- 
describably pure and unapproachable in effect, 
were unknown to her in the law of sound. 
For a time these musical instruments were 
taken up by unseen hands, and the circle was 
treated to a concert that would have made 
Liszt envious. 

At length the instruments were all floated 
in the air, all playing in concert as they moved 
along near the ceiling of the room, and were 
placed in the interior of a securely-locked 
glass case, where they were found at the close 
of the seance. 

Suddenly the covering over the cabinet was 
snatched from its hangings and thrown with a 
dash upon the medium, completely enveloping 
him. The illumination thus uncovered re- 
vealed the fact that materialization within the 
cabinet was a success. Among the spirits 

* JSpi-ri'-ius, accent en second syllable. 



and the Spirit Medium 35 

plainly seen within the cabinet was a lady of 
beautiful form, and with her posed an angelic 
child that seemed to smile and cast eyes, as 
did the lady, directly toward Miss L. and her 
father. These two forms began to move, 
came out of the cabinet, seemingly directly 
through the luminous screen without moving 
it, and passed over toward Miss L. and her 
father. This was indeed a trial to the nerves 
of Mr. L., and seemed to rob him of his 
speech. He hesitated to speak, not wishing to 
commit himself in some unguarded remark, 
thus detaining the visitors until the lady threw 
from her face a veil that had somewhat con- 
cealed her features. At this Mr. L. ejaculated, 
" Well! " and as he paused his daughter, Miss 
L. , hysterically exclaimed, i ' It is mother and 
darling fflnmaj" 

All human forces, mental or physical, have 
their limit, and now the cool indifference and 
stoical attitude of Mr. L. had reached their 
outer bounds, and the restraint imposed upon 
his feelings had become neutralized. Forget- 
ting the inflexible rule of the circle never to 
sunder the union of hands, his grasp both upon 
his daughter's hand and that of the druggist's 
wife, who sat on either side of him, was re- 
laxed, and he was about to rise to his feet, 
when his daughter reproved him, and as he 
resumed his seat and grasp, he was heard to 
say, 4 ' I must have been — " 

As Mr. L. had broken the circle and at- 



36 The Late L>7\ Sedgwick 

tempted to rise, the two spirits that had 
approached him vanished. So did the forms 
within the cabinet. The covering over the 
medium was again vigorously snatched away 
and placed over the illuminated parts of the 
cabinet, and all was darkness again. The 
medium who had been in trance condition, 
assumed a normal state and made inquiry as 
to any irregularity. No one spoke a word in 
reply, and now was the opportunity for the 
circle to take on some trance conditions them- 
selves. This they did, and not a mouth opened 
and not a foot moved in reply to the medium's 
inquiry. He audibly smiled and kept his wits 
about him, and seemed greatly pleased at the 
eccentric turn of things. He could read that 
the circle had lectured itself, and had utilized 
the mishap or breach to good advantage. 

A number of the spirits in the cabinet, when 
the curtain was first removed, were recognized 
by members of the circle. Among them was 
the "Aunt Ruth," who had appeared a num- 
ber of times before, and with her was another 
lady whom it was thought she had brought 
with her in answer to some questions put to 
her at previous seances. Now all was dark- 
ness, and while results up to this point in the 
seance were abundant and felicitous, none 
were satisfied to break the circle and cease, 
nor did they think that the small breach just 
passed would long interfere. Some spirits, 
however, are known to be exceedingly sensi- 



and the Spirit Medium 37 

tive, and many mediums claim that conditions 
suddenly reversed, as the turning on of lights 
when manifestations are appearing, so shock 
the medium as to be liable to produce death. 

This time the covering had been spread both 
inside and outside the luminous parts of the 
cabinet, and all light excluded. The trumpet, 
which had also been placed inside the cabinet, 
was now taken up and a spirit announced that 
the seance would continue, and that a spirit 
present wished to communicate with Doctor 
Jones. This was anticipated, and the conjec- 
ture was that the spirit was that of Doctor 
Sedgwick. Doctor Jones was getting a new 
experience, but his opportunity in this seance 
was an unusually valuable experience to him. 
The evidence of the past hour or two was 
rapidly crystallizing into sentiment that would 
impel him into belief of spirit return, and, 
being less difficult to approach than many 
others, and more susceptible than most per- 
sons, he would undoubtedly make a vigorous 
advocate of the occult. He had closely 
watched the materialized forms of the con- 
sort and child of Mr. L., and was himself 
impelled to attempt to touch those spirit bod- 
ies as they faded away. 

The trumpet had now been picked up by 
the control of Professor C, who for the first 
time made known his name to the circle. 
He said that his name on earth had been 
Uriah Sinnett, and remarked that he had been 



38 The Late Dr. Sedgwick 

born in Switzerland, educated in music and 
the sciences, and that he had emigrated to 
America, and was well known in Boston in 
an early day; that he was now leader of a 
band of spirits in music, and that it was his 
band that gave the instrumental concert at 
the outset of the seance. He said that spirits 
intended ere long to introduce themselves into 
daylight congregational, instrumental, and 
vocal music ; that the two worlds were getting 
closer and closer together, and as the one 
spiritualized and the other materialized under 
evolutionary forces, the difficulty of recogni- 
tion will have passed away, and association 
between the two worlds will become a practi- 
cal fact. 

After this brief introduction of himself the 
control stated that a spirit who had been in 
the spirit world but a brief period of time, but 
who was unusually strong and very influential 
in the spirit band of Professor C, and who 
had come into his band only since the professor 
came to the town of B., was present and 
wished to speak to Doctor Jones. " This is 
your friend, Doctor Sedgwick" said the con- 
trol, as he introduced the lamented doctor to 
his former associate, the trumpet coming into 
touch with both Doctor Jones and his wife, 
and then control, trumpet, and all, seemed to 
have disappeared. 

Now it was expected, and even promised, 
that Doctor Sedgwick would appear at this 



and the Spirit Medium 39 

seance in materialized form and would walk 
and talk in an audible and visible manner. 
Doctor Jones was disposed to remind the 
spirit of this anticipation, when suddenly the 
control again appeared and explained that 
Doctor Sedgwick desired an extended inter- 
view with Doctor Jones, and that if he 
assumed the materialized form he would be 
able to abide in manifestation but a brief 
while, and thus fail in the object of his inter- 
view. The control said that Doctor Sedgwick 
had consulted him and had taken his advice, 
and that at some early future date Doctor 
Jones should be fully gratified in meeting his 
friend in materialized form. This seemed to 
relieve Doctor Jones of his disappointment, 
and gave the spirit of his friend an oppor- 
tunity to get en rapport with him. 

The scene at this point, if an experience of 
this kind can be called a " scene," would have 
been an opportunity for an artist. Once one 
thinks of it, one does not need objective eyes 
or the physical sense of sight to form a picture. 
After all, a scene or picture is nothing more 
than an impression that is carried to the seat 
of consciousness, and what the circle saw (I 
do not mean circlesaw) through their ears at 
this stage of the seance greatly surpassed the 
visible spirit forms that had so recently both 
appeared and disappeared. 

Again trumpet and spirit disappeared, but 
only for a moment, for the expected Doctor 



40 The Late Dr. Sedgwick 

Sedgwick was now surrounded with every 
condition desirable, and at once approached 
his friend, and through the trumpet began the 
interview. 

Doctor Jones expected to recognize the voice 
of his spirit friend, forgetting that new condi- 
tions produced new> results, and that vibra- 
tions of sound produced in the trumpet would 
neutralize the normal voice. But soon all the 
preconceived tests were forgotten, as the spirit 
unfolded in detail the very secrets of the busi- 
ness connecting the two men in life. 

"I am, indeed, happy," said Doctor Jones, 
"to realize so unexpected an advantage as the 
fact of meeting you here gives me. The proof 
that I am not deceived in the person who is 
speaking to me is conclusive. I shall have 
the utmost confidence in all you say as having 
been spoken direct from the spirit of my friend 
and business partner in life. As your discre- 
tion in our counsels in business was always 
apparent, and your judgment correct in mat- 
ters advised, I shall take it that you are none 
the less wise now, and shall think it well to 
manifest deference to any request or desire 
you shall now make." 

"I, also, am glad," replied the spirit, "to 
find that confidence in me is still alive in you, 
and when I shall have given you fully the in- 
formation and advice, and have made a re- 
quest that I desire to make, and have appeared 
to you in materialized form and gratified you 



and the Spirit Medium 41 

with the highest order of test in spirit return, 
I shall no longer, for the present, linger on 
the borders of earth-plane. I have learned 
of the elysian fields beyond and have already 
joined a band destined for that land. Some 
of these have returned from those fields of 
progression, as escorts, and others, newly ap- 
pearing spirits from many parts of the world, 
all congenials, and all in waiting like colonists 
who congregate and for a time await the out- 
fitting for their departure. Others there are, 
too, whose assignment in spirit life is to 
remain in touch with earth-plane and en- 
deavor to upbuild and spiritualize those still 
in mortal form. These come into almost 
constant communication, also, with the ad- 
vanced grades of spirits, who pass and 
repass through the spheres in their intercom- 
munications. Occasionally one of these ad- 
vanced and super spirits, as in the case of 
Sinnett, who has introduced me to you, re- 
turns again to earth and assists in some re- 
markable manifestation and sets all spiritual 
forces in an advanced key." Such was the 
doctor's brief but interesting lecture paren- 
thetically delivered, while occupied in his first 
interview with Doctor Jones. 

The secular business owned jointly by the 
two doctors was one with which neither name 
stood connected. Doctor Sedgwick, as hinted 
at in another part of this narrative, had 
experimented much in the compounding of 



42 The Late Dr. Sedgwick 

oleums for use in his profession, having ever 
remembered the stories told him in youth by 
the renowned " General Wicker," and he had 
invented a remedy for certain prevalent dis- 
eases of horses, that had grown into popu- 
larity in two continents as a specific. The 
increasing demand, for it induced Doctor 
Jones to unite with Doctor Sedgwick in 
putting the business into a proprietary stock 
company, the two owning all the stock. 

The formula of this compound had always 
remained in possession of Doctor Sedgwick, 
and it had not yet occurred to Doctor Jones 
that he was helpless in continuing the manu- 
facture and sale of this valuable remedy. Be- 
fore the close of this spirit interview Doctor 
Sedgwick revealed to his friend and partner 
the place of deposit of this formula, and said, 
also, that among his papers there would be 
found a will devising the distribution of his 
possessions. "Among the papers will also be 
found a power of attorney," said he, "made 
to my brother, Sylvester, who has right by 
my decree to dispose of and convey any 
stocks, bonds, or personal chattels that I may 
have. A copy of this power of attorney 
is in the hands of my brother, who lives in 
Denver, and who has heard of my death 
and Avill be east in a few days. The will 
will be found simple, and the settlement of 
the estate can be easily arranged to avoid 
complication. 



and the Spirit Medium 43 

u And now, Mr. Jones," said the spirit, "I 
have a request to make and a piece of advice 
to give you that you will do well to heed. It 
is that you will negotiate with my brother for 
my interest in our, or what was, when I was 
in the body, our business. Keep it in your 
hands and reap the profits yourself. You will 
find all my papers in box (13) thirteen at the 
National Bank, Detroit ; but the presi- 
dent of the bank is now in Europe, and the 
instructions to the bank are that he, the presi- 
dent, alone, as an outside party, shall, on any 
emergency, open the box." 

The voice had grown faint in the last re- 
marks, and it was now evident that the inter- 
view would not continue much longer. At 
length the spirit said, "I shall now leave you, 
and on the 11th of June, at the next regular 
seance, I shall appear once more and shall 
gather force to materialize in bodily form. 
Should there arise until then any queries with 
you, I will have opportunity to further ex- 
plain." 

The trumpet here fell heavily upon the 
floor in the middle of the circle, the sound 
reverberating and echoing as if all were 
incased within a metal globe. In a moment 
all was silent as death, and no one knew 
whether another in the circle was dead or 
alive. Not a ray of light to dispel the gloom, 
nor a sound uttered, until, without the house 
in a neighbor's adjoining coop, as if it 



44 The Late Dr. Sedgwick 

were the voice of doom, the fattening cock 
thrice crew. 

Suddenly the swishing sound of the conceal- 
ing drapery was heard, as it was cast across 
the room. The surroundings changed as the 
uncovering of the luminous parts of the cabi- 
net revealed the forms of many spirits within, 
and the room seemed light enough to distin- 
guish faces within the circle. 

The medium now gave evidence of having 
resumed a more normal condition, and re- 
marked that the circle could indulge in limited 
conversation. Just then a male form of 
mature life emerged from the cabinet and 
passed over to the medium and congratulated 
him on the success of the evening. "This," 
said Professor C, the medium, "is Sinnett, 
my control and guide." "Yes," replied the 
guide, "he has spoken correctly. I am his 
guide. All the living have guides. These are 
detailed from the spirits, who willingly take 
up their duty. See, within the cabinet there 
now appear the guides of each member of this 
circle. These I have sought out and brought 
here during the period that the communica- 
tion now just past was taking place, that you 
all, before the closing of this seance, might 
witness the appearance of your spirit con- 
trols, or guides. Some of these have never be- 
fore appeared in materialized or visible form, 
nor would they now except for the assistance 
derived from this new cabinet. You will ob- 



and the Spirit Medium 45 

serve that many of them seem to be adults, 
and yet the number, being (21) twenty-one, 
find room to appear within the cabinet. This 
seeming contradiction of space finds no fact 
in spirit habitation. Your knowledge and 
experience in physical contact does not apply 
to spirits." 

Thus saying, the guide again turned about 
to the medium, who himself seemed intently 
interested, and remarked to him: " You have 
been chosen as the instrument in the hands of 
an exalted band of developed spirits to bring 
into closer touch, or contact, and better knowl- 
edge, the objective life of earth-plane to that 
of the spirit forces involving and enveloping 
the race of mankind, as the atmosphere envel- 
opes the earth globe. The question of uniting 
in cooperation several psychics to form a 
union, and thus concentrate spirit forces, has 
often been discussed in spirit counsels and ad- 
vised, but there is an element not yet elimi- 
nated from earth life that has always defeated 
the purpose of the guides, or spirit counsels. 
This element is — jealousy between mediums. 
I am the first spirit to communicate this 
experience of guides, or controls, back to 
our living wards, and trust that publicity 
and credence shall be given my remarks. 
I find, however, in this, my psychic ward, 
a disposition to ignore all selfishness and 
lose himself in the will of his control, or 
guide, thus making it possible for him to be 



46 The Late Dr. Sedgwick 

united with another, or others, of like unself- 
ishness, and to be able, in harmonious union, 
to do what many singly could not do. As 
spirits unite, the strength does not only add, 
but multiplies. We have also closely watched 
the party who has been associated with Pro- 
fessor C. for a few weeks, and who is now in 
Chicago, and we begin to think that these two 
may form a charter base of a mediums' band 
chosen by spirit guides, and we shall again 
undertake this task heretofore found so diffi- 
cult. We shall hold another spirit council 
between this and your next seance, and if 
both mediums, Professor C. and Mr. Gould, 
are present at that seance, we may have some 
advice to give on the question of a mediums' 
union." 

Here the guide disclosed an illuminated 
wand in his hand, and, expressing sympathy 
with the medium because of his bandages, 
which, he said, were inhuman and useless, 
and reflected shame upon the unbelieving and 
incredulous mind which had put such tests 
upon him, he lifted the wand over the head 
of the medium, commanding that he be set 
free. Instantly the thongs that had so long 
held him in bondage were snatched from him, 
torn into pieces, and a sample of thong thrown 
into the lap of each sitter in the circle. 

At this the guide disappeared. The forms 
in the cabinet were gone, and the illumina- 
tions of the cabinet seemed to have waned. 



and the Spirit Medium 47 

The medium arose from his chair as if im- 
pelled by some unseen force, struck a match 
and lighted the gas, and remarked that the 
seance had closed. Said he further, as he 
walked across the room toward a stand upon 
which lay twenty-one silver dollars, u If, now, 
there be any person present who is not satis- 
fied with the results of the seance, he is at 
liberty to accept from this coin the return of 
his money." No one seemed to be in need and 
the surplus was not reduced. 

Again the cabinet was thoroughly exam- 
ined and found just as previously arranged 
by the committee. The glass case containing 
the musical instruments was also investigated, 
but was beyond comment or suggestion. Each 
mind of the twenty-one sitters of the circle 
contained a volume of silent and penetrating 
thought, but all tongues were mute, except 
the faint whisperings of the ladies as they 
donned their w^raps, and in a few minutes, as 
before remarked, the streets of B. looked as 
though a belated excursion had returned. 



48 The Late Dr. Sedgwick 



CHAPTER III. 

The seven days in the interval between the 
regular meetings of the organized spiritual 
circle were full of interesting but not boister- 
ous gossip. As the members met each other 
during the week, brief but suppressed inter- 
views were indulged in, but the experience of 
the last seance was largely left to produce its 
normal results in the minds of the members 
without agitation. Indeed, but few of the 
circle during the week regained sufficient 
freedom of mind or assurance of sentiment to 
feel safe in affirming or denying, of discuss- 
ing pro or con what to them, in experience, 
was beyond comprehension and, too, beyond 
doubt. 

The usual private sittings occurred during 
this week, day and evenings, and the profes- 
sor received a large number of callers, many 
of them for the first time in their lives wooing 
the presence of their departed ones, or con- 
sulting a representative of the occult. At 
these sittings there was no stipulated fee ex- 
cept for such service or test as would scarcely 
more than announce the presence of some 
spirit friend, adding a test or two to satisfy 
identity. These experiences always led to a 



and the Spirit Medium 49 

more than casual investigation, and generally- 
resulted in confirming the investigator in the 
belief in spiritualism. The largest fees and 
most profitable professional resources that 
Professor C. found in the town of B. were 
for rendering assistance to forlorn lovers and 
locating lost or stolen property. Several 
wealthy young ladies paid him handsomely 
and received assurances that the object of 
their affections would be rendered unable to 
withstand their charms. 

The most important events of that week 
occurred in the experience of Doctor Jones. 
To his surprise, the next day following the 
seance of the night of June 4, there arrived 
in the town of B., Sylvester Sedgwick, from 
Denver, Colorado. He seemed to know but 
little of the detail, and none of the incidents 
surrounding and following the death of his 
brother. It was but natural that he should 
call upon Doctor Jones, and in the first inter- 
view he corroborated the statement made at 
the seance by his spirit brother that he had a 
copy of a power of attorney, giving him in 
case of his brother's death the right to dispose 
of his brother's personal effects. Doctor 
Jones gave a concise statement of all 
that had taken place at the seance the 
night before, which seemed to cause great 
regret in the mind of Mr. Sedgwick that he 
had not been present himself at the seance 
to consult the spirit of his brother. In 

4 



50 The Late Dr. Sedgwick 

reply to an inquiry, he stated that it would be 
impossible for him to remain east longer than 
two days, and suggested that Doctor Jones 
propose, in the matter of his brother's estate, 
any plan that would suit him for settlement. 
The request and advice of Doctor Sedgwick 
that Doctor Jones purchase his interest, was 
fully discussed by the two men. Negotiations 
were, at this interview, begun, and by the 
evening of the third day Sylvester Sedgwick 
received Doctor Jones's check for twenty 
thousand dollars, and the next morning 
boarded a Michigan Central train for the West. 

During this week a large order from a New 
York distributing house came in for the well- 
known remedy, of which Doctor Jones was 
now sole owner. So reduced was his stock in 
hand after filling this order that it soon became 
necessary again to replenish stock, which 
Doctor Sedgwick had himself heretofore 
always cared for. But how could Doctor 
Jones replenish his stock until he should 
obtain from the safety vault deposit box the 
formula giving directions in the manufactur- 
ing of the article? This formula had been 
stipulated in the purchase, but it was locked 
up and the holder of the key in Europe. 

The doctor grew somewhat impatient, and 
the more so when a second large order came 
in with not sufficient goods on hand to cover it. 

Before the week had passed the worry of 
Doctor Jones for the possession of the papers 



and the Spirit Medium 51 

that he was entitled to, and upon which de- 
pended the results of his investment, led 
him to propound to himself the following 
queries : 

4 4 Have I not, perhaps, paid too much to get 
possession of this business ? Where can I 
find a parallel in the methods employed to 
bring about this deal ? Would it not have 
been policy to have held in abeyance, for a 
time, the conditions of purchase, thus assur- 
ing against any possible contingency ? " Not 
a word, however, did the doctor mention to 
any of his friends about it, and, as the west- 
ern man was unknown to any of the citizens 
of B., and Doctor Jones himself had only a 
few times heard Doctor Sedgwick speak of his 
brother in the West, and the spirit circle being 
quiet as to what had transpired at the seance, 
no one but the doctor and his attorneys knew 
what had taken place in the deal for the pro- 
prietary business of & . 

Said the doctor to himself one day on the 
eve of the approaching 11th : 

44 This spirit business is a 4 funny ' business." 

Now, the term u funny" has all sorts of 
meanings, and the doctor himself hardly 
knew what he intended by its use. But in 
the soliloquy he said : 

"That materializing may be a solid fact, 
and if so it will admit of demonstration, 
which is better than proof. Now, I never was 
acquainted with Mr. L.'s first wife, but she 



52 The Late Dr. Sedgivick 

looked to me in that spirit body to be passable 
for any man's wife, and if I had had a deceased 
wife, I should not have been ashamed, I am 
sure, to have had her return looking so beau- 
tiful. This 'materializing' quite gets me, and 
if Doctor Sedgwick shows up all right at the 
next seance, I intend shaking hands with him 
if it kills a medium. I am into it and I now 
intend to play my part." 

Just then " Hurry Joe" stepped into the 
office of Doctor Jones. Each smiled at the 
other and the doctor received the congratula- 
tions of his friend with becoming modesty. 
The interview did not last long, and each 
inferred that the other was well satisfied with 
past and promised results touching the seance 
at which the doctor, for the first time, had 
been present. 

When the doctor was again alone, resuming 
his soliloquy, as a vivid impression flashed 
across his mind, he said: "Now, I shall call 
upon Mr. L. at his office and have a free and 
open discussion of all this matter." 

Turning to the phone, he called up Mr. L. 
and found him in, and engaged with him a 
private interview, to begin thirty minutes 
hence, and to continue one hour. He then 
tapped his domestic wire and said to Mrs. 
Jones that he would be absent from the office 
on business matters for two hours, neither 
telling Mrs. Jones nor noting upon the slate 
where he was going — an unusual thing. He 



and the Spirit Medium 53 

then hastily left his office and met Mr. L. at 
the place agreed upon. 

"Well," said Mr. L., U I am surprised at 
this seeming coincidence, as I was on my feet 
at the phone when you called me, intending 
just then to call you up for an interview." 

4 'Telepathy, *rapport, mind -reading, thought 
transference, or what ! " exclaimed the doctor. 
"I guess this spirit business is starting some 
new mental germs in us ; and, by and by, I am 
afraid our telephone stock won't be worth 
more than the poles for kindling wood." 

Mr. L. laughed heartily, and the subject of 
the interview was glided upon without any 
formal introduction. They were closeted for a 
much longer time than either had anticipated, 
but parted well understanding one another, 
and with some unusually important matters 
laid out to do. 

The interview had not continued long until 
both seemed impressed that there might be a 
possible misrepresentation in the claims of 
disembodied visitors at a spiritual seance. Mr. 
L. flushed when the doctor congratulated him 
on the beauty of the wife of his youth. 

44 Yes," said Mr. L., "my wife was a hand- 
some lady, and a loving and lovable com- 
panion, and the thought of her return thrust 
upon me so suddenly melted the steel out of 
my resolution to be unmoved at anything that 
should happen at the seance. You saw what 

-See Glossary. 



54 The Late Dr. Sedgwick 

happened. I have thought that thing all 
over, and if ever I get another chance, I will 
find out who it is or what it is if it kills a 
medium. " 

" There," said Doctor Jones, "that is my 
very thought touching the matter of Doctor 
Sedgwick, if he shall materialize as he has 
promised to do at the next seance." 

Before the interview closed both had become 
skeptical, and had arranged to assist each 
other in any emergency or opportunity that 
should arise. Considering and agreeing upon 
a definite course of action for the night of June 
11th proximo, they promised that, if the 
spirit of Doctor Sedgwick appeared, they 
would determine the density and avoirdupois 
of a spirit body in materialized form. 

Two of the male members of the regular 
circle announced that they could not be pres- 
ent at the next meeting, and Doctor Jones and 
Mr. L. took advantage of this, indicating two 
persons who should take their places. These 
two persons were taken into the secret of the 
purpose of Doctor Jones and Mr. L. They 
were persons possessing all qualifications for 
any emergency within the range of their pow- 
ers, and felt it a very great honor and privi- 
lege to have this assignment, whether or not 
any emergency should arise. They had both 
called upon Professor C. during the week, and 
had had private sittings, giving the professor 
an opportunity to form an acquaintance, and 



and the Spirit Medium 55 

themselves gaining favor that assisted in his 
consenting that they should take the places of 
the absent ones at the next spiritual circle. 

These four men having assigned themselves 
an undertaking the nature of which had no 
allotment in the formal records of civil or 
criminal experience, were not forgetful that a 
mooted question has two sides, and a landing 
place was agreed upon if these apparitions 
should prove to be de facto spirits. 

The evening of the 11th came, and with it 
the circle. The professor seemed in a most 
excellent mood. Only one regret marred his 
feelings, felt also by all present, and that was 
the absence again of Mr. Gould, his associate 
medium. The circle, however, was assured 
that a fine evening of entertainment was be- 
fore them, and that his guide or control had, 
since the last meeting, " materially" improved 
the cabinet ; or, rather, had assisted him in a 
better understanding of the possibilities of 
spirit manifestation emanating from the super- 
mundane parts of the cabinet. Thus, anxiety 
and anticipation were the sense of feeling 
during the social prelude, which lasted half 
an hour and was fruitful of some felicitations, 
as some of the circle related to their friends 
experiences of the past week in private sittings 
with Professor C. 

Direct preparations were now made for 
forming the circle. The ladies whose male 
partners were absent were assigned the new 



56 The Late Dr. Sedgwick 

male members, as substitutes, and soon all 
was ready and the seance was on. 

What happened at this seance was a 
"plenty," and the moral of it all, together 
with the revelations that followed, makes a 
concluding chapter in the narrative more 
brilliant than the luminous belts of Saturn, or 
the spirit screens from Mars. 

Before describing what happened at this 
seance, I will say that, during his introduction 
of occult manifestations to his patrons in the 
town of B./ Professor C. had used the most 
considerate methods, always desirous that his 
sitters should understand and appreciate the 
entertaining principles of spiritualism, ever 
reminding the investigator that returning 
spirits always have a very social attitude, 
frequently evoking merriment, and always 
aiming to render profitable assistance to the 
communicant. 

The professor had known many felicitous 
consummations in business and love, the re- 
sults of spirit counsel, and had himself figured 
as medium in not a few. He seemed to be an 
all-round psychic, and understood well what 
phases of manifestation and what degree of 
such phase best suited the circumstance or 
occasion. His guides and himself were care- 
ful, too, to avoid what in the experience of 
amateur mediums and even amateur controls 
often brings on incredulity in the mind of the 
investigator, that of precipitating incredible 



and the Spirit Medium 57 

pnenomena in advance of, or disconnected 
from a philosophical explanation of the spirit 
law warranting such developments. Both the 
medium and his guide, Sinnett, had been un- 
tiring since they began their work in B., in 
their effort to educate this inteUigent circle in 
occult philosophy, and, indeed, several of the 
members were named as developing for in- 
spirational speakers, and among them the 
most promising was Miss L., whose father, 
for the first time, was present at the last 
circle and now again at the one under discus- 
sion. 

This circle contained but two uninitiated 
members. By this I mean but two persons — 
the substitutes — who had not been accli- 
mated to the spirit atmosphere produced by 
the magnetic charging of materialized spirit 
contact. There was present, however, an 
abundance of positive influence, and the scale 
was evenly balanced, and soon at this seance 
the more than usual manifestations began to 
appear. 

The medium, this evening, was not bound, 
nor in any way put under test conditions, fur- 
ther than to take his seat in the circle and 
join hands with the sitters, only once loosing 
his hold when in need of a handkerchief. 

In telling what happened this evening, I re- 
mark that, when the cabinet was arranged, 
the medium proposed that, on the first mani- 
festation, the circle should receive messages 



58 The Late Dr. Sedgwick 

upon slips of paper, which had been placed 
in blank sheet upon a small stand within the 
cabinet, and covered with a drawer taken from 
beneath the stand. Scarcely had the lights 
been extinguished, when the drawer was lifted 
up and out over the cabinet, and dropped 
heavily upon the floor in front. There was 
sufficient light from the illuminated parts of 
the cabinet, which were, as yet, uncovered, to 
outline the stand, and to see that no one was 
inside the cabinet. 

Presently numerous slips of paper were 
shifted or blown about, all lighting in the 
drawer upon the floor in front of the cabinet, 
which was then taken up by unseen hands, 
moved about the circle, pausing before each 
sitter, allowing each to select a ballot. 4 ' These 
hallots," said the medium, " may seem to have 
been taken by you from the drawer by chance, 
but not so; each was given you and they will 
be found to contain the names of your spirit 
guides. Perhaps the two substitutes shall 
have received blanks; if upon them, though, 
are found names, they are intended for the 
regular sitters, and not for the substitutes. 
Place these slips in your pockets and peruse 
them again at your homes, as they will be a 
study to you until we meet again. Possibly 
some of you will find pictures drawn upon 
them, likenesses of yourself or your guide, or 
of both. This phase of manifestation is new, 
and has been introduced by a spirit artist 



and the Spirit Medium 59 

associated with my guide, Sinnett." Then 
was the clasping of hands broken for a mo- 
ment, and ladies and gentlemen found pockets 
and places in which to put their souvenirs. 

It was uncertain what phase would follow 
next, tk for," said the medium, "I am not 
always able to suggest, or even lead the 
inclination of my control, and I myself am 
now as anxious as any of you to see or hear, 
as the case may be, what comes next." 

At this point, in regular style, the drapery 
about the cabinet was adjusted so as to con- 
ceal all illumination, and darkness reigned 
supreme. Scarcely had quiet resumed, when 
the two substitutes were lifted, and in a most 
marvelous and mysterious manner each was 
placed upon the other's chair. This created 
a sensation, and to say that these two gentle- 
men were surprised, puts it mildly. While 
the ladies were for once inclined to be fright- 
ened, the medium caused a laugh among the 
gentlemen by suggesting that the guides of 
these two gentlemen must have been free- 
masons, and were introducing their wards 
into a spirit fraternity. 

It would now have been a great privilege 
could the four men before named have held a 
little counsel together, for, at least, each would 
have liked to have known the others' f eelings 
just then. But fortunately the only method 
of communication between them just then 
was telepathy, and as all had the same clue, 



60 The Late Dr. Sedgwick 

no doubt all had the same conclusion as to the 
experience of the substitutes. 

After an interval of several minutes, spirit 
lights appeared in several parts of the room at 
the same time. These kept changing and 
assuming different forms until they grew into 
phantasms and apparitions, at one time assum- 
ing the perfect outline of a horse. " This de- 
notes," said the medium, u that some spirit is 
present whose business was with horses ; or, if 
it relates to one of the sitters, that he is in 
some way interested in horses." 

Here Doctor Jones cautiously moved his 
foot past his wife and pressed the foot of Mr. 
L. , which was a significant movement, and well 
understood by Mr. L. This he repeated in 
the opposite direction and touched one of the 
new sitters, who also well understood the 
meaning of the doctor's touch. 

This fantastic maneuvering was kept up for 
a while, and, while exceedingly interesting 
and full of study, all seemed anxious to see 
more developments from within the cabinet. 
It was not long until the circle was gratified 
by a manifestation from the cabinet, as their 
attention was drawn thither by a beautiful 
voice producing a melodious refrain and keep- 
ing time in moving an arm clad in a most 
gorgeous yet transparent robe. The spirit 
did not remain long, nor was there then an- 
other in the cabinet. 

Soon was everything again silent, and the 



and the Spirit Medium 61 

medium became entranced. Presently he 
again became normal, and said that he had 
been clairaudient, and that the spirit just pres- 
ent, who had sung so beautifully, said she was 
the guide of Mrs. Jones, and had, when in 
spirit rapport, ofttimes assisted Mrs. Jones at 
her popular musical entertainments. "She 
says Sinnett requests that she defer until 
some future time any further manifestations, 
and that other spirits would soon appear, 
manifesting in various forms." 

Presently there appeared in the cabinet a 
number of spirit forms of various sizes and 
ages, of both sexes. All eyes were now in- 
tent on recognizing a returned spirit friend or 
relative, and Doctor Jones and Mr. L. had 
hoped that Doctor Sedgwick was among those 
materializing. This anticipation was a most 
painful sensation, for if he should fail to come, 
a crushing disappointment would follow. 
Should he appear, however, and come out of 
the cabinet, a climax was arranged for in- 
volving but conjectural results. 

At length two forms emerged from the 
cabinet, both posing just without. The spokes- 
man was Sinnett, the guide of the medium. 
The medium himself now sat entranced. 
"This spirit," said Sinnett, the guide, or con- 
trol, u whom I bring with me is Doctor 
William Sedgwick, who for the first time 
appears in materialized form. He is able to 
remain but a few moments and to converse 



62 The Late Br, Sedgwick 

independently but little. His old friend and 
business associate, with whom he held, with 
the aid of the trumpet, so extended an inter- 
view at your last seance, is here, and as 
there is an agreement between them to 
recognize one another, I will withdraw and 
give the opportunity for this anticipated inter- 
view." 

Thus saying, the control disappeared as a 
snuffed candle, and the spirit body of the 
lamented Doctor William Sedgwick slowly 
moved down the circle, faintly endeavoring to 
speak the name of Doctor Jones, using inter- 
rogatory accents. Doctor Jones, fearing lest 
a too previous recognition would hinder a 
closer approach of the spirit of his friend, re- 
mained silent until he had passed Mr. L. and 
was within arm's reach. He — then — rose — 
to — his — feet, — and — sprang — upon — the — 
spirit — and — bore — him — down — to — the 
— floor, — and before breathing twice, found 
himself in a situation, that was as unlooked for 
as is the resurrection day before the millen- 
ium. The doctor found the spirit, as he had 
before surmised, a "solid fact" and, while he 
had arranged for this, he had not arranged for 
the fact that spirits have the power to call 
down, or up, as the case may be, a force to 
assist them in emergencies like this. Talk 
about " Bedlam let loose," — Bedlam is "not 
in it" in a case like this! The frightened 
ladies, the surprised and enraged medium, the 



and the Spirit Medium 63 

materializing again of Sinnett, the control, 
the appearing again of other spirits, seemingly 
coming through the walls and up out of the 
flcs**, mingling and mixing in the struggle to 
tyfi the spirit of Doctor Sedgwick from the 
f Vir determined detectives, produced the most 
1 memorable experience ever fought to a finish 

Ma any town in Michigan. 

| The imported cabinet was overturned, and 
the luminous wicket screen from Mars rolled 
up as a scroll. The beautiful singer, the 
spirit guide of Mrs. Jones, was now weeping, 
while upon the floor in faints lay several lady 
members of the circle. The lights had been 
turned on and out several times, a number of 
the male members of the circle taking part in 
the struggle pro and con, but it was difficult 
to say who, in light or darkness, had the ad- 
vantage. One of the circle, u Hurry Joe," 
had escaped from the room and had hurriedly 
called the marshal and three policemen, who 
put in an appearance in an incredibly short 
period of time. This had been arranged for 
by Doctor Jones. They assisted in quelling 
the fight, and took charge of several of the 
party, lodging one of them in prison and 
another in the city hospital. 

Thus ended the seance of that memorable 
night, and with it the engagements of Pro- 
fessor C. in the town of B. 

A number of the circle with one of the offi- 
cers remained for a few hours, and took an 



64 The Late Dr. Sedgwick 

inventory and drew sketches of the remains 
of the wreck. 

One of the substitutes that evening was the 
editor of The Times, and an expert user of 
the pen and pencil, as the next issue of his 
paper proved. 

One of the queer results of the raid was 
that but two " spirits" had been captured — 
the impersonating " spirit" of Doctor Sedg- 
wick and the " guide" of Mrs. Jones. Even 
the medium himself and Sinnett, his control, 
both of whom were involved in the struggle, 
had dematerialized, and were not found among 
the articles listed in the inventory. 

The marshal, on returning from the jail 
where he had lodged the " spirit" of Doctor 
Sedgwick, found there a large crowd of the 
citizens of B., who had learned of the excite- 
ment, and had turned out of bed, robed them- 
selves, and sought to understand what it all 
meant. 

The building was a large, commodious 
dwelling on one of the best streets in the city, 
but had been vacant recently except as parts 
of it were fitted up by Professor C. and dedi- 
cated to spirits. The place is still known as 
Spi-ri'-tus Hall, taking its name from the 
wonderful musical instrument used in Pro- 
fessor C.'s seances. 

The marshal now took charge of the build- 
ing, ordered all to leave, locked up, and stood 
guard himself until morning. He carefully 



and the Spirit Medium 65 

read over and made a duplicate copy of the 
inventory of the capture, which read as 
follows : 

Two physically materialized spirits, one a 
male, lodged in the city prison for hearing in 
criminal court. Name unknown. The other 
a female, a bad case of hysterics, released on 
her own recognizance, but kept under sur- 
veillance. 

One spirit cabinet, more or less fractured 
and parts disjointed. One spirit-rapping stand, 
also fractured, disclosing electrical machinery 
in the interior. 

One electric lantern for casting figures. 
One large aluminum spirit trumpet. One 
telescope trumpet. One guitar, with internal 
automatic harmony sounder. One typewriter, 
looking much like a miniature cotton-gin. One 
harmonica. One accordion. ( The instrument 
Spi-ri'-tas not found.) The debris of four 
floss robes, two spools silk thread, one spirit 
bolt, one spirit lock, five luminous faces, and 
two stars, luminous upon one side, and a job 
lot of slippers, hats, and handkerchiefs be- 
longing to unknown persons. 

The next morning the town of B. was all 
excitement, and no one was interested in any- 
thing except that which related to the excite- 
ment of the night. It was rumored that 
Doctor Jones was badly injured, and was lying 
at the hospital. AU kinds of rumors were 
current, and business was largely suspended 

5 



66 The Late Dr. Sedgwick 

until Mrs. Jones assured the people that it 
was chagrin more than bodily injury that 
kept the doctor concealed, and that later in 
the day he would appear at his office. 
. The Times, with a full-page article giving a 
detailed account and history of events of the 
seances and Professor C.'s work in B. so far 
as known, was out by 2 p.m. that day. 
The Associated Press had brief accounts, 
also, for its evening issues, and had sent 
a representative from Detroit to the field for 
news. 

There remained, however, some secrets that 
would undoubtedly prove to Doctor Jones an 
interesting sequel, which he now set about dis- 
covering. 

Nerving himself for whatever might de- 
velop, the doctor, late in the afternoon, stepped 
across the street and arranged with a neigh- 
boring physician to take care of his practice 
for a few days, " for," said he "I am going to 
see what is behind all this and where I am 
going to land in it." 

Mr. L. had agreed to be the prosecutor in 
the case and had sworn out warrants for 
Professor C, one Henry Gould (if he could be 
found), and the " unknown," now in custody. 

The mortal home of the beautiful guide of 
Mrs. Jones was located, and as she promised 
to " materialize" when needed, she was reg- 
istered as a witness and allowed her freedom. 

The trial of the " unknown" was to take 



and the Spirit Medium 67 

place before Squire Gresham on the 14th, 
giving several days for the contestants to pre- 
pare for what promised to be an important 
event in the history of the town of B. The 
array of legal talent retained on both sides 
was sufficient and capable to have handled an 
international suit. This case while, however, 
it did not involve two nations, did, apparently, 
comprehend two worlds, and promised to de- 
velop some intricate technicalities. 

The " unknown," who had now given the 
name of "Peter Frock," had through his 
attorney offered bail, but Squire Gresham arbi- 
trarily overruled the motion. There seemed to 
be abundant collateral on hand, and the squire 
was challenged to name the amount that would 
liberate the prisoner until the trial; but the 
justice was inflexible, and the spirit prisoner 
had but one way for release, and that was to 
dematerialize. "This," said Squire Gresham, 
u is the only logical hope of relief the prisoner 
can expect in his case." 

The meager Associated Press dispatch that 
had reached the evening papers of June 12, 
giving an account of the affair, contained the 
name of Doctor William Sedgwick, the u late 
deceased." The Post, of Hamilton, Canada, 
had the account. At the leading hotel of that 
city was stopping an English gentleman, an 
agent sent over by some London capitalists to 
make investments in American industries. 
From this person early on the morning of the 



68 The Late Dr. Sedgwick 

13th, Doctor Jones received a telegram sum- 
moning him at an hour late that day to u meet 
me" at a certain hotel in Detroit. The mes- 
sage closed with, " Important. A. Z." These 
two letters, first and last in the alphabet, 
mean in a telegram, "No excuse for failure 
admissible." 

This message to the doctor was a mystery, 
as he had never heard of the gentleman or 
his business. How to proceed he did not 
know, as he could not leave town on account 
of the pending trial. He quickly counseled 
Squire Gresham and the prosecuting attorney 
and arranged that the trial be held in abey- 
ance if he failed to return in time. He then 
hastened back to his office, alighted from his 
carriage, told Mrs. Jones that he was sum- 
moned to Detroit, was going, and jocularly 
remarked : 

"If you need anything before I return, call 
up your beautiful spirit guide." 

With this the doctor resumed his seat in 
the carriage, ordered the driver to " make the 
depot in a minute," and was soon aboard the 
Michigan Central flyer bounding toward 
Detroit. 

As the doctor boarded the train, he observed 
a number of his acquaintances who belonged 
in towns west of B., and interpreted their 
interrogatory smiles as they greeted him as 
meaning an intended interview on the affair 
at B. To avoid this the doctor seemed to be 



and the Spirit Medium 69 

hunting a comfortable seat, and passed back 
Iribo the chair car. 

On slipping his hand into his vest pocket 
for some change to pay the porter for his seat, 
he drew also from his pocket a slip of paper, 
which proved to be the ballot received at the 
seance purporting to contain the name of his 
spirit guide, and which, in the excitement 
since the seance, he had forgotten until then. 
He opened it. It read : 

u Dear Doctor Jones: I am glad you have 
purchased my interest in our former business. 
I now have no further cause for remaining on 
the earth-plane, and will now depart for my 
celestial home, welcoming you in your advent 
across the mystic river. Farewell. 

4 'William S." 

4 'Possibly," said Doctor Jones to himself, 
and remembering that the medium, Professor 
C, had told them to keep the ballots, as they 
would prove an interesting study, he again 
folded it up and put it into his pocket. 

Early in the evening the gentleman from 
Hamilton, Canada, and Doctor Jones met. 
The doctor had concluded that the summons 
had some significance relating to his business 
outside of his profession, but could not con- 
jecture in what way, as he was interested in 
several industrial institutions. 

The meeting of the two men would have 
occurred earlier in the day, except that the 
man from Canada thought he knew Mr. 



70 The Late Dr. Sedgwick 

Jones, and should at once recognize him. 
For reasons, neither had registered at the 
hotel, and not until some one in the lobby was 
overheard by the Englishman calling Doctor 
Jones, did he realize that Doctor Jones was 
present. On hearing the doctor's name 
spoken, he at once arose from his seat, ap- 
proached the man, and asked, "Is this Doctor 
Jones, of B.?" 

"It is," was the reply. 

"Doctor Jones, one of the proprietors of 
the celebrated equine remedy invented by 
Doctor Sedgwick? " he asked. 

"The only proprietor now," rejoined Mr. 
Jones. 

The Englishman stood for a moment mo- 
tionless and speechless. Then, suppressing 
his surprise, he stepped to the hotel desk, 
engaged a room, and the two men were 
soon closeted. 

"Englishmen, you know," said the man 
from Canada, "are blunt people, and as I am 
not here in the interest of any elocutionary 
club, I will abbreviate all preludes." 

Beginning again, he asked: "Are you the 
Doctor Jones whom I met in Hamilton, Can- 
ada, ten days ago with Doctor Sedgwick, and 
from whom I purchased for eleven thousand 
pounds — advancing five thousand pounds — 
the celebrated proprietary specific of which I 
have spoken, and whom by agreement I was 
to meet here on the 21st proximo, pay the 



and the Spirit Medium 71 

balance of purchase price, and receive posses- 
sion of all appurtenances ? " 

This " blunt," but comprehensive inquisi- 
tiveness of the Englishman, took Doctor Jones 
completely off his feet, and, for a time, he did 
not know whether his sensations were those 
of a criminal or of injured innocence. 

The two men were not long getting at the 
bottom facts. Whether they were both in- 
jured in some, as yet inexplainable or incom- 
prehensible, way, or if one, which one, was 
not entirely apparent. Conspiracy to defraud, 
however, was in evidence, but the details of 
the incident needed to be grouped to give both 
or either an intelligent understanding. The 
Englishman's comprehensive question stated 
and implied all the facts in his experience, 
and gave the doctor an opportunity at once to 
understand that not only the interest he had 
bought, but that the enterprise in toto had 
been transferred to the Englishman, by some 
one or more persons. As for himself, Doctor 
Jones realized that some one had assumed to 
represent him in the deal with the London 
agent, but whom he did not know, nor was 
the problem implicating Doctor Sedgwick less 
than a riddle. Was it true that William Sedg- 
wick and a man chosen to represent Doctor 
Jones had negotiated with the Englishman 
for the sum of fifty-five thousand dollars, and 
that nearly one-half of this amount had 
changed hands? or, who had concocted and 



72 The Late Dr. Sedgwick 

carried through this deal? The English agent 
said that this celebrated specific was known in 
his own country, and that it was listed by- 
English capitalists as a desirable American 
property; and that Doctor Sedgwick had 
called at their London office twelve months 
ago, while in Europe, and had then proposed a 
deal. He said he had noticed in the Hamilton 
Post of the evening before, the despatch from 
the States, speaking of the incident at B. r 
mentioning the "deceased" Doctor Sedgwick, 
and that it was the fact of his death that 
suggested to him an immediate interview with 
Doctor Jones regarding the property nego- 
tiated for. 

u Yes," said Doctor Jones, " William Sedg- 
wick is deceased, for I myself attended his 
funeral, and have with me at this time the 
papers found upon his body by which he was 
identified." He then told the Englishman the 
incidents of the spirit medium, of the meeting 
of the spirit of Doctor Sedgwick at the seance, 
and the fact of the deal in purchasing the 
business himself, and invited him to go with 
him back to the town of B., and see the person 
who had impersonated Doctor Sedgwick. 
This was agreed upon, and at a late hour both 
men retired. 

Before leaving Detroit next morning, the 

two men called at the National Bank, 

and to their surprise found that the president 
had returned from his foreign trip. They 



and the Spirit Medium 73 

made inquiry about the papers in keeping for 
Doctor Sedgwick, and found that he had a 
deposit box. Doctor Jones showed an order 
for its contents, and the president took from 
the vault a duplicate key for No. 13, opened 
it, and found within it — nothing ! 

The president of the bank had as yet learned 
but little as to the incidents connected with 
Doctor Sedgwick's death, but was greatly 
surprised at finding nothing in the safe box. 
Here was cause again for alarm to Doctor 
Jones, but the matter was not then dis- 
cussed. 

Before noon the two men were en route for 
the city of B. , and upon arriving found not a 
few strangers in town, who had come to wit- 
ness the trial. It had been called in the court 
of Justice G., but continued to the next day, 
and would be heard on the morrow. 

Doctor Jones had not been present at the 
preliminary hearing of the prisoner, and, in- 
deed, had had no opportunity since the seance 
to see the impersonating spirit of Doctor Sedg- 
wick. He suggested to his English friend 
that they go at once to the city prison and see 
the prisoner. This they did, but the prisoner 
refused to be interviewed. 

Both men left the prison, after failing in the 
object of their visit, feeling that the last 
syllable of the word u interview" had been 
sufficient to put a clue into their minds. At 
length the shrewd Englishman said in his 



74 The Late Dr. Sedgwick 

blunt way, "This man, I think, is William 
Sedgwick." 

The editor of the Times, who had visited 
the prisoner, had already located him as the 
"Henry Gould" who had previously regis- 
tered at the Park Hotel, and had cooperated 
with Professor C. in some of his seances, and 
was reported now to be in Chicago. 

That night, at a counsel relating to the case, 
held by interested citizens of B., including 
Justice Gresham, a writ of search was sworn 
out, and the body of the prisoner demanded. 
A guarantee to do the prisoner no bodily harm 
was given, and the justice signed the writ and 
the prisoner was sent for. 

It was now a late hour at night, and but 
few of the citizens of B. knew what was 
transpiring. Those engaged in this trans- 
action were among the first citizens of the 
place. The object of this step was to identify, 
if possible, the prisoner, and all kinds of 
wagers within the Hmits of propriety, were 
staked as to the result in the search for 
William Sedgwick in the person of the pris- 
oner. 

Not one left the place where the counsel 
had taken place until the prisoner, who, sus- 
pecting violence, had detained the officers by 
his persistent refusal to be removed, was 
brought in. But the sheriff had assured him 
that no bodily harm should be done him, and he 
then reluctantly consented to go. On arriving: 



and the Spirit Medium 75 

at the counsel chamber, the object of the writ 
was explained to the prisoner. He sat for a 
moment speechless and unmoved, and then 
remarked : 

"Wait, gentlemen — " 

The prisoner did not look like William Sedg- 
wick. The doctor had always worn a long 
and flowing beard. This man had a clean- 
shaven face, and on the left cheek wore a con- 
siderable scar. Doctor Sedgwick had grown 
gray quite early, but this man had red hair, 
disposed to be curly. Doctor Sedgwick was 
of German descent, and had round and regu- 
lar features. This man was decidedly Roman 
in cast. 

At length the prisoner rose to his feet a-.d 
said, ' ' Yes, gentlemen, — I — am — Doctor — 
Sedgwick. I am, perhaps, the best disguised 
man you ever saw; but I am in a trap and 
I may be able to mitigate to some degree 
my condition by unfolding to you this con- 
spiracy. I shall submit to my deserts, but 
will relieve the court and my prosecutors 
of much weary effort. I will relieve you, 
gentlemen, of the effort of searching for my 
identity." 

Here the prisoner, with great difficulty, re- 
moved a wig from his head that had perfectly 
represented natural growth. "This scar on 
my left cheek," said he, "you see I wear," 
and then loosened it and removed it. "I am 
not Roman-featured as you suppose, but have 



76 The Late Dr. Sedgwick 

the regular features of myself," said he, as he 
pulled off the roof of his nose. 

"Gentlemen," he continued, "if I had not 
attended the seance of the 11th, or attempted 
the materialization fake on that night, noth- 
ing but the bones in the grave that my friend 
here, Doctor Jones, helped to bury in Green 
Lawn, would ever have been found of me 
again. Every detail, beginning months ago, 
was completely worked out, and would have 
been finished successfully, had not the turn 
taken place that made me a prisoner, the 
which, my ambition to overdo is responsible 
for. Had the seance passed off without in- 
terruption, the next morning would have found 
the city free from every mark of our where- 
abouts. You never would have been able to 
have detected, or even suspected, the con- 
spirators. The several male persons in it be- 
sides myself have escaped you, and, as they 
are free, you will save expense and trouble by 
making no search. The medium, although 
bearing the name of one well known in that 
profession, is not he. The lady who was 
found connected with us has but few secrets 
to tell, and can do you no good. She played 
her part well, but it was a mere adornment, 
and she was in no way implicated in the con- 
spiracy. The plot was wholly concocted by 
myself, and, considering it financially, a fine 
success, as it comprehends yet other fruit- 
ful, but undiscovered results. I presume 



and the Spirit Medium 77 

that a man at my age, with such penalty as 
my acts warrant, need not hope for further 
opportunity, but I will say that the charm 
that leads one forward in connection with the 
profession of a spirit medium and the oppor- 
tunity open to carry forward designs of this 
sort are beyond belief . You may say that I 
have fallen. Call it what you may, I feel but 
one regret, and that is that I arranged for and 
attempted one too many seances. I had noth- 
ing to gain, and lost everything. 

"I do not feel like saying much more, yet 
will say that you will find the 'tests' and 
4 spirit manifestations ' produced at the seances 
of Professor C. to have been gathered from 
incidents in the memory of those yet living ; 
from books, family Bibles, gravestones, etc., 
and foisted upon the credulous sitters as spirit 
communications . 

"Mrs. F., of B. street, Detroit, is all right. 
She is in Canada. I saw her at Hamilton 
when I met this gentleman, the agent of the 
London investors, there. I knew her where- 
abouts all the time, and simply through my 
confederates managed to keep an interesting 
amount of gossip going. 

"And now, gentlemen, I presume that I will 
have to defer my contemplated trip to Europe, 
arranged to ship from New York to-morrow, 
and assign my anticipated pleasure of a life 
among the beauties of Japan to some one else. 
I think that I realize the situation I am in, 



78 The Late Dr. Sedgwick 

and, as the penalties are not mortal, I will 
stoutly bear them. You may wonder why I, 
in the easy and affluent circumstances that I 
enjoyed, should degenerate to such a life. 
Future developments will answer that ques- 
tion in more eloquent language than I can 
command here to-night." 

44 Yes," said Doctor Sedgwick, in answer to 
some questions put to him by his inquisitors, 
44 the selling and buying of commodities in 
immense quantities under 4 spirit 1 advice 
occur constantly throughout the entire civil- 
ized world, and I had thought that, as Japan 
is now opening up and inviting our standard 
of civilization, it would be an auspicious field 
for this feature. Many people never hesitate 
to do what is advised them at a spirit seance. 
You will find that some of your own towns- 
men have not 4 hesitated.' 

44 Now," said the prisoner, 44 I am at your 
pleasure," and he was ordered back to 
prison. 

The whole of the above proceeding was 
irregular and informal, but it had mighty 
weight in molding proceedings for the future. 
The Englishman, who sat a silent auditor all 
the evening, saw the trap in which he was 
caught, and seeing little satisfaction in store 
for him in prosecution, without even hinting 
to any one his situation, took the midnight 
train and left for the Province. Doctor Jones, 
in some way known only to himself and the 



and the Spirit Medium 79 

adventurer, compromised the matter and re- 
fused to prosecute him. 

The case came up in a few days under in- 
dictment for obtaining money under false 
pretense. This was ill-sustained, as it could 
not be directly proven that he had been bene- 
fited by, or had taken any of the money as 
admission fees at the seances. The jury dis- 
agreed and the prisoner was admitted to bail. 
The amount fixed was fifty dollars, which he 
furnished, forfeited, and left the country ; and 
is believed to still have gone to Japan. 



THE END. 



THE DEVELOPMENT AND STATUS 
OF MODERN SPIRITUALISM. 

Spiritualism, in its rise and progress under 
its modern phases and developments, presents 
an array of facts that well nigh startle the 
serious and thoughtful who come in touch 
with its influence, and who become sufficiently 
interested in it to seek an intelligent under- 
standing of its movements and magnitude. 

The day when ridicule was thought to be a 
weapon of sufficient force to repel the en- 
croachments of spiritualism has passed, and 
ridicule is now one of the morsels that add to 
its vigor and growth. 

Some of the facts surrounding this move- 
ment, of interest to persons wanting to know 
the truth, the writer will endeavor to append. 

It can no longer be said that this " delusion" 
finds its affinities alone in the brain of the 
weak-minded or superstitious. Among its 
adherents and representatives are numbered 
many of the most intelligent and brainy men 
and women produced in this generation and 
representing all enlightened nations. This 
statement may seem to the reader sensa- 
tional and wanting in evidence, but it is true- 

6 81 



82 Modern Spiritualism 

Intelligence is not its counter force, nor does it 
automatically repel the importunate and so- 
licitous influence of spiritualism when once in 
touch with it. There is, however, one modi- 
fying assurance, always dominant in the 
intelligent mind, the gratuitous ban, imposed 
upon the serious investigator. It is damaging 
in the popular mind to the intellectual caste of 
the investigator if he shall decide in favor of 
the claims of spiritualism, and he is thus sur- 
rounded with a healthy restraint. 

Numerically, spiritualism has a showing 
that commends itself to the statistician, and 
denotes that inherent force that is ever active 
in propagating its claims. It is not confined 
to one nation, nor is it local in its uprising. 
Its fondest resorts and most active spheres are 
the cities. In all the large cities of America 
it is so thoroughly implanted as to openly and 
publicly claim the right of respect, and what- 
ever of franchises its personnel or pre- 
sumption can gain. Societies, organized into 
churches, lyceums, and schools, are springing 
Uj. all over the land. No greater, or more 
numerous, or more enthusiastic gatherings are 
lound in our land than the summer resorts or 
spiritualistic camp-meetings now so prevalent. 
The social " affinity " at these gatherings is 
most marked, and their zeal in dispensing the 
gospel of spiritualism knows no bounds. 

Thus it is true that this force, dealing with 
he social and spiritual destiny of man, has 



Modern Spiritualism 83 

grown to such proportions that it no longer 
apologizes for the asking of attention, nor 
assumes inferiority in seeking recognition. 
Her ministers are granted clerical permits, 
and the statutes of the commonwealth protect 
them in their religious gatherings. 

The claim of ten million adherents in 
America has sufficient support to put the 
opponents of spiritualism on the defensive, 
and shows the reality so liable to be ignored 
by those whose attention is otherwise en- 
grossed. 

As elsewhere stated in this book, there is 
found in the realm of this cult, modern 
spiritualism, facts, or a fact, than which no 
greater or more important problem in the 
vital interests of man's social and spiritual 
welfare remains to be solved. This occult 
force or fact has so developed in the manifest- 
ing of its presence as to bring, in some degree, 
a large part of the race under its influence. 
Who now has the remedy? Or who can sug- 
gest the utility of the fact or force, and bring 
it in harmony with the purpose of nature ? 

It is well here to note that spiritualism has 
taken the right of way ; that it meets with no 
opposition commensurate with its aggressive 
strength. The disbeliever is content to let it 
alone, and not to honor it with attention. The 
churches seldom rise to oppose it, but say that 
it will die out if left alone. So much could be 
said of a burning building. One of the as- 



84 Modern Spiritualism 

tonishing facts is that many church-members 
are constant attendants at the seances, and 
clandestinely believe in it and affiliate with its 
followers. 

Some of the results growing out of the 
propagation of spiritualism are interesting. 
As in all other overwrought mental excite- 
ments, it tends to develop insanity. The one 
peculiar trait in this mental disturbance is the 
tendency to give that faculty of the mind 
which entertains mystery undue influence 
over the reasoning faculties. The mind thus 
soon becomes incapable of judging between 
true and false. 

I have met with many honest and zealous 
investigators who ofttimes have been sur- 
rounded with the most marvelous phenomena, 
and who were firm believers in the fact of 
ulterior force, and who were intelligent enough 
to give standing to their denial of fraud, but 
who would not assume to say where the 
occult force came from. Then, too, take the 
case of Professor Jamison, whose wife was a 
noted medium, and who, with her, for years 
honestly investigated and advocated it, though 
he at length proselyted; not claiming that it 
was fraud, but that it was incomprehensible 
and unable logically to establish its claims 
upon the premise of spirit return, or disem- 
bodied intelligence. 

The amount of fraud and fake foisted in 
the name of spiritualism is stupendous. Hun- 



Modern Spiritualism 85 

dreds of mediums who are successful in their 
profession have never been able to produce a 
scintilla of true phenomena. Others who 
have learned to utilize some of the mental 
forces in producing mysterious manifestation, 
add to these, ad infinitum, feats manipulated 
by secreted agencies. Again, you may meet 
a true psychic, and though his field is more 
limited and less amenable, you find here food 
for the most intelligent mind. It is in this 
experience that we find a want of solution. 
Who has it? 

"1 have it," says the theologian. "It is 
diabolism. " 

" 1 have it," says the scientist. " It is sub- 
jective force." 

" 1 have it," says the ready guesser. " It is 
nonsense." 

It is most difficult to find one who has not a 
solution to offer, and if these solutions did 
not so antagonize one another, there might 
be hope of canceling minor differences and 
uniting on the major proposition. But you 
at once see that there is no central truth upon 
which to unite. 

Financially the movement to " enlighten 
the world " on spiritualism is strong. Many 
men of means are engrossed in the movement 
and use their wealth freely for the purpose of 
disseminating its teachings. Indeed, as a 
pattern, their benevolence is model. Numer- 
ous temples of spacious and elegant apart- 



88 Modem Spiritualism 

ments have been erected, and such notices as 
"Services at the First," or "Second," or 
"Third Spiritualistic Church," is a standing 
item in many city papers of Saturday's issue. 

In point of literature, spiritualism presents 
its strongest and most aggressive agency. 
Swedenborg was never more prolific nor 
profuse than some of these modern ' ? inspired " 
writers. Whole libraries have emanated from 
a single author. Its philosophy, as recast by 
modern writers, bears the impress of the 
thought of all ages, and the press is constantly 
throwing out millions of messages purporting 
to have come from departed spirits. Numer- 
ous periodicals and tracts fill the mails daily, 
in their distribution throughout every State in 
the Union, and their workers enjoy happiness 
in their zeal to "enlighten the world." 

One cannot but readily recognize the sincer- 
ity of many of its adherents, nor fail to observe 
that peculiar cast of physiognomy molded 
into a facial expression under the belief of 
spirit contact and spirit communication. 

Who that has an intelligent understanding 
of the status of this aggressive and compre- 
hensive movement will venture a prophecy 
encompassing its future destiny ? l ' Truth will 
prevail" is no less a maxim now than in the 
ages of persecution, but Truth in this case 
may possibly be in the hands of its adversaries. 

An important element in the development 
of this mysterious realm is that quiet, reticent, 



Modem Spiritualism 87 

ever active, and inquisitive circle in the home. 
Concealed and secreted are the experiences of 
thousands of persons who in their own homes 
have wooed the coming of the departed, nor 
has their patience wearied nor their zeal slack- 
ened, until at last " something did appear." 
It is now a very common occurrence to find 
home circles into which none but the "elect" 
are ever admitted, where the shrine that re- 
ceives oblation to the dead is erected. 

The sincerity of these believers is only 
matched by the expansion of the phenomena 
obtained. It is most disappointing to one 
after hearing the story of the phenomena to 
realize how it minifies in one's presence. 

The writer has many times listened to nar- 
ratives, the experience of sincere believers 
who have come in touch with wonderful 
phenomena, who had no solution for them 
but the aid of spirits, and whose range of 
observation was within the home circle, where 
no fraud was possible. Suffice it to say that 
when these phenomena came under the obser- 
vation of a judicial eye, the mystery has 
always so decreased as to utterly destroy 
its weight as evidence of departed spirits. 
Nevertheless the belief in spiritualism is 
growing, and its sweep is accelerating; and 
who can foretell its end? 



A CHAPTER ON PSYCHIC LAW 
OR SUBJECTIVE FORCE. 

We shall not ask the reader, who for en- 
tertainment has followed the foregoing narra- 
tive, to labor through this concluding chapter, 
for it is not the design of the author to enter- 
tain as in the story just concluded ; but it is 
his intention to interest the student of the 
occult into whose hands these lines may fa-.l, 
in some of the facts now well established in 
the psychic field. 

Whatever may be said of the principles of 
evolution or of involution, the student of 
science, in whatever field, finds on close analy- 
sis of cause and effect that " discovery " is but 
a development or growth of intellect, an 
evolution of mind, in which conscious prin- 
ciples are unfolded, enabling intelligence to 
recognize existing conditions. Thus it is that 
mentality in its aggregate and unit force tends 
in its unfolding to realize something of its 
own constituency, 4t discovering " in itself new 
elementary principles ; and thus it is that we 
say that we are merging into the psychic age. 

In physics, it is no longer claimed that 
density and avoirdupois are the chief elements 



90 Psychic Law or Subjective Force 

of power. The "soul," or occult force, of 
matter harmonizing and in union with the 
will of man becomes the chief agent of force. 
In harmony with this, intellect, or mind force, 
has asserted its superiority over matter, and 
mind, in its dual nature, is found capable of 
manifesting or demonstrating feats of force 
to itself. In other words, the one of our in- 
tellect, the subjective, is capable of manifest- 
ing to the other of our intellect, the objec- 
tive. 

However much may or may not be claimed in 
the spiritual field, some phenomenal feats are 
established beyond cavil. However much it 
may pain the mind of that one established in 
the disbelief of phenomenal manifestation to 
change his views, it is, nevertheless, a fact 
that the most mysterious and marvelous feats 
occur, and that these manifestations are not 
amenable to those laws governing the objec- 
tive of nature. 

That there is an occult force, either inherent 
or ulterior, which, when surrounded by certain 
conditions apparently under normal law, de- 
velops itself and assumes a tangible relation 
to the sentient man, is in indubitable evidence. 
It is, then, apparent that one cannot, however 
scientific, or however potent in logic, or classic 
in burlesque, ridicule the fact away, or argue 
another who has come in touch with this 
force, out of his conscious knowledge of con- 
tact with it. One cannot get behind another's 



Psychic Lmo or Subjective Force 91 

motives, and explain to him that he has been 
fraudulent when he knows better. Thus it is, 
that some other solution of the so-called phe- 
nomena of spiritualism must be sought, than 
to relegate it all to fraud. 

Many of the theories in science or tradition 
advanced to account for the source of the 
abnormal feats in human life, harmonize but 
ill with the facts, and leave that student sat- 
isfied who has only come in touch with the 
theory, and who has not viewed the incon- 
sistency between it and the demonstration of 
the occult force. 

There is no possible way of intercepting the 
aggression and rapid growth of belief in 
spirit communication except by explaining the 
fact, as well as uncovering the fraud connected 
with these experiences. 

The theologian, with undaunted courage, un- 
sheathes the inspired Word and finds abundant 
proof of the satanic source of spiritualism, and 
warns all against its invidious approaches. 
He denies nothing, and hopes to make it 
appear such an object of dread that we should 
seek only to repel it. He has done well if he 
accomplishes this, which we hope he has. 

There remain, however, some intricate re- 
lations in these experiences that do not bear 
characteristic resemblance to the theory of 
demonology, and forbid the possible collusion 
of deceptive alliances. To these we ask the 
attention of the serious and capable student, 



92 Psychic Law or Subjective Force 

and, however much of the occult he may- 
have relegated to one and another theory of 
accounting, he will yet find material unfur- 
nished a solution, or unclassified in the hypoth- 
eses of the hasty. 

It is also true that, in the study of modern 
phases of the occult, the tendency of the in- 
vestigator is to drift into a solution endanger- 
ing his reputation with the intellectual world. 
This arises from the fact that he has discov- 
ered truth that must be accounted for to an 
unappreciative public ear. 

The effect of psychic influence upon the 
mind of the race has thus far been, upon the 
part of those who ignore it, reduced to a nul- 
lity; and, with those who deal with it, as a 
rule, augmented to an incomparable social and 
spiritual evil. 

Thus the question arises, "Is there any- 
thing good in spiritualism, and, if so, how can 
it be utilized ? " In answering this question, 
we will substitute for " spiritualism " the term 
4 'subjective force." This, however, you may 
think, leaves a vast range of the subject un- 
discussed, the which, cannot be entertained in 
this brief chapter, and the which, also, if en- 
tertained, would relegate this little volume 
to an unwonted channel. The writer is 
aware that assertion proves nothing, and that 
proof deducted from a hypothesis, is but a 
literary feat. Happily, however, in the whole 
of this interesting field, there remains the 



Psychic Law or Subjective Force 93 

court of demonstration, whose prerogative is 
final. To this court of last resort, it has been 
the writer's privilege to carry important and 
representative cases. Happily, too, in this 
court, the interested party is left to pass the 
verdict in accordance with the warrant of the 
evidence. 

It is not the purpose of the author to at- 
tempt to establish a new theory, accounting 
for the force lying behind the manifestations 
so apparent in the experience of the psychic, 
nor to attempt to overthrow the theory of 
another, who is convinced that he has the 
proper solution of all mystery, any further 
than to say that spiritualism, however many 
harmonies it may involve, is yet hampered by 
incongruities and absurdities which prevail to 
such a degree as to render the whole illogical. 
Up to this date, the weight of evidence in all 
established truth relating to the claim of spirit 
return, is woefully lacking in any force that 
will convince the logical investigator of the 
truth of the claim. True, many isolated 
cases of manifestations have appeared, which, 
if taken alone, would tend to establish this 
fact ; but, taken collectively, they are destruc- 
tive of the theory, and drive one to the nega- 
tive view — and thus it stands. But yet the 
question, in either its ancient or modern 
phases, remains unsettled. 

Perhaps nothing in the experience of man- 
kind is so ridiculed by one part of the race as 



94 Psychic Law or Subjective Force 

the belief in witchcraft, necromancy, and the 
manifestations attributed to this power. And, 
too, nothing, perhaps, is so little understood, 
or so uninviting to an intelligent study, as are 
the facts connected with these experiences. 
And withal, there is no realm of study in 
which one is so liable to lose caste with the 
intellectual world, as when one attempts to 
deal with this subject in an unprejudiced 
manner. 

In the field of " subjective force," or the 
abnormal realm of human life, we find a 
most interesting study, a most important 
reality, the sublimest remedial agency in na- 
ture devoted to the perpetuity of life ana 
the amelioration of human ills. We, as a 
race, at this age, more than ever before, are 
compelled to recognize this importunate soul- 
force, as it courts investigation; though, ever 
and anon, it has in all ages manifested its 
presence, and has found recognition and utility 
to a limited extent. 

In this field lie all the virtues found in the 
multitude of isms and cults based upon heal- 
ing. Christian Science, Mind Cure, Faith 
Cure, Divine Healing, Dowieism, Spiritual- 
ism, Theosophy, Hypnotism, Suggestive 
Therapeutics, and Zoism, all, either know- 
ingly or unknowingly, enter this field, and 
from it obtain the agency that produces the re- 
sults which have brought them into notoriety. 
Happily, this subliminal law is not sensitive 



Psychic Law or Subjective Force 95 

to human ignorance. Call it by any name that 
suits you, associate it with any religion you 
wish, and surround it by any absurdity you 
desire, it is always the willing agent within a 
fixed limit when conditions are opportune to 
do its work. 

Nor is this a blind force, as manifested in 
the case of administering poison. Nor is the 
phase of healing its limit of manifestation. 
The intelligence comprehended in this force 
is beyond our objective comprehension, and 
its range of utility, as yet, but a conjecture; 
and yet, so coy is it on approach, that you in- 
terpret its diffidence as saying: — "Only my 
way, if you please." 

He who shall enter this field and ehminate 
its absurdities, avoiding its superstitions, and 
reduce this abnormal force to a normal agency, 
shall find one more 4 4 connecting link " between 
the material and the spiritual, and shall strike 
hands with the subliminal self, bringing into 
touch with objective life, the invisible ele- 
ments of the immaterial realm. 

Just where the limit of legitimate knowl- 
edge lies, is a mooted question among moral- 
ists. Just what Nature holds as too sacred 
for our inquisitiveness, may be the duty of the 
plebeian to say. However unlawful it may be 
to investigate law, the tendency inherent in 
mind, is, irresistible progression. The leaders 
in the u thought world" can best fulfill their 
mission by blazing the line of legitimate bv 



96 Psychic Law or Subjective Force 

vestigation and demonstrating the fact of 
discovery. 

Thus, we have but suggested some possi- 
bilities in this field, inviting the student to 
further investigation, if to him the following 
quotation carries any significance: "For the 
life is more than meat, and the body more 
than raiment" 



GLOSSARY OF PSYCHIC 
TERMS. 

DEFINITION OF TERMS IN RELATION TO THE SUB- 
JECT DISCUSSED WITHIN. 

Abnormal— Separating or departing from normal func- 
tional action. 

Adept— One versed in occult science. 

Astrology— The doctrine that teaches that the stars rule 
in the destiny of a human life. 

Aura— A magnetic atmosphere surrounding a medium, 
or a mediumistic person, from which spirits de- 
rive power to manifest. 

Band— A number of controls who unite and take charge 
of a medium. 

Circle— The persons making up an audience at a seance. 

Consciousness— The state of being aware of one's 
mental acts. 

Clairaudient— Being able to hear sounds or voices in- 
audible to others. 

Clairvoyant — One possessing power to see immaterial 
things, as spirits. 

Control— A spirit who takes charge of a medium and 
manifests by the assistance of the medium's aura 
or magnetism. 

Developing— Unfolding of powers to communicate with 
spirits. 

7 97 



98 Glossary of Psychic Terms 

Earth- Bound— Imprisoned on earth alter death. 

Earth-Plane— The first spirit degree or sphere. 

Ego— The self-conscious spirit or mind. 

Ethical— Pertaining to the science of human duty and 
right conduct. 

Evolution— The act by growth of manifesting concrete 
ingredients, in mind or matter. 

Horoscope— The aspect of the planets at the time of 
one's birth. 

Hypnotism— A mental and physical condition produced 
by a sleep induced by suggestion, in which the 
objective faculties of mind obtain a state of abey- 
ance, and the subjective of mind becomes active. 

Involution— Complication ; a fixed equation of evolu 
tion; infolding. 

Inspiration— The influencing of a living mind by 
ulterior spirit power. 

Mahatma— An adept of the highest order. 

Manifestation— The display of spirit presence or spirit 
power; a test. 

Materialization— An assuming by a spirit of bodily or 
visible form. 

Medium— A person through whom spirits can manifest; 
a psychic. 

Mentality— The sum of the mental faculties or powers. 

Occult— Invisible fact, revealed only by ulterior force. 
Manifestation from a hidden source. An un- 
known cause. The supernatural realm. Spirit 
power. 

Objective— Those faculties or functions of mind which 
take cognizance through the physical senses. 



Glossary of Psychic Terms 99 

Phenomenon— A demonstration of occult force or fact 
to the physical senses. 

Physics— The science that treats of phenomena asso- 
ciated with matter. 

Psychic— Pertaining to the mind or soul; a spirit 
medium. 

Psychometry— Pertaining to the mental reading by one 
of another's past experience. 

Rapport— Sympathetic accord ; mental touch. 

Seance— A sitting of persons for consulting spirits. 

Sensitive— One subject to hypnotic or mediumistic in- 
fluences. 

Sphere— Circuit or range of action ; degree of knowledge 
or influence. 

Spirit Band— A number of spirits united in the inter- 
est of some person or cause. 

Spiritism— The study or the science of the invisible, or 
the disembodied spirit realm. 

Spiritualism— The doctrine or belief of spirit return 
and spirit communication with the living. 

Subjective— Relating to that power of mind manifest- 
ing or taking cognizance when the physical senses 
and objective faculties are dormant. 

Subliminal— That intelligent force existing beneath the 
threshold of objective consciousness. 

Telepathy— That power of mind capable of transmit- 
ting and receiving thought without the use of 
the physical senses or physical force. The sympa- 
thetic affection of one mind by the thoughts, feel- 
ings, or emotions of another, conveyed while 
separated 



U *?a 



100 Glossary of Psychic Terms 

Test— A manifestation in proof of a spirit's claim. 

Test Condition -Placing the medium where it is 
thought impossible for him to produce the mani- 
festations. 

Trance— An unconscious state in which the soul seems 
to leave the body and inheres a state of ecstasy 
accompanied with visions. 

Zoism— The science of life; religiously, the worshiping 
of life. 



JUN 7 190U 



Deacidified using the Bookkeeper process. 
Neutralizing agent: Magnesium Oxide 
Treatment Date: Nov. 2004 

PreservationTechnologies 

A WORLD LEADER IN PAPER PRESERVATION 

1 1 1 Thomson Park Drive 
Cranberry Township, PA 16066 
(724)779-2111 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 





013 503 727 8 • 



